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At first glance you’d
think these things have absolutely nothing in common, right? Until this
weekend that’s what I thought too. But after spending a little time talking
with Darrell Bennett, Diamond Lakes Park Manager, I learned a few things
about the history of this brand new place to play tennis in Augusta.
Darrell tells me back in the 1960’s Diamond Lakes was home to a three mile
auto racing road track – The Augusta International Raceway - complete with
grand stand and all. It’s where legendary stock car driver “Fireball”
Roberts won his last race. The track was even host to some official NASCAR
events.
On
your way to the courts if you have look to your right, over in front of the
library, you’ll see a monument there that commemorates the track and its
history.
Darrell says after the cars stopped racing the area was sold and turned into
a Christmas tree farm. There were acres of Christmas trees all over the
site. In 1999 it changed hands again. The City of Augusta purchased the
area for the athletic complex in a few years…the rest will be history!
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