Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
June 30, 2015, 1:00 a.m.
If you are driving down Buccaneer Trail on Amelia Island south of the Fernandina Beach City limits, you can’t miss the “Kraft Tennis Club Kids Tennis Summer Camp” sign with the beautiful canopy of oaks and moss in the background. This ten acre property along the Amelia River belongs to the Kraft Athletic Club and was purchased in 1954 with donations from 20 Kraft Corporation mill workers to be used by the local community (members) for athletic activities.
Kraft Tennis Partners, who started the summer camp, has certainly contributed to that purpose by leasing the property and improving it. They added 5 new state of the art Har-Tru (better than clay) courts and replaced the 2 old hard courts on the Intracoastal as well. This group led by officers Peter Johnson, Frances Blancett, and Bob Schick with board members Janet Thomas, Phil Scanlan, Jerry Kawecki, Don Gilles and Leslie Ritter had 176 members in 2009. They are also members of KAC as well and have improved the clubhouse they are using by the courts with a kitchen and updating, according to Jerry Kawecki, who guided me around the area.
In the summer of 2010 KTP organized the first tennis program for kids aged 10 and under with their USTA certified volunteers in charge. That program has been changed to include more children and in the fourth year has 55 signed up for the June camp, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It now includes 3 groups by age up to 14 years old. It is also affordable at $25 per child. KTP is providing a wonderful affordable experience to the community and the children in the pictures were enjoying the experience on a very hot day under the shady trees. Alaya Brown is registering and receiving her t-shirt from volunteers Kris Barger and Susie and Jerry Kawecki. Both Kawecki daughters are also involved in the program.
As a side note, this reporter remember fondly experiences at Kraft Ten Acres over the past ten years such as oyster roasts with various groups, dancing in the old yellow building (which might be updated according to rumors) with the Terpsichoreans and attending Amelia Island Sail Club meetings at the KAC club building on the Intracoastal with the finest sunset views on the island. It is nice to see things looking up on this beautiful property. For more information on Kraft Tennis Partners, you can email www.krafttennis.com
Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.
Great article Gerry