Playland Park started as a trolley park in 1880. By 1912 it had a Casino, an exhibition hall and a roller coaster. In 1916 a race track was added to the amusement park. The South Bend Benders minor league teams and South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League played most of their games there. The grandstand also had horse racing and fireworks. The park hosted the 4-H Fair for many years. A NASCAR race was held on track July 20, 1952. It was 200 laps around a 1/2 mile dirt oval. Herb Thomas won the pole and led the first 41 laps; before he crashed out. From there Tim Flock would take the lead and hold it the last 159 laps to get the win. Lee Petty was
