pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə pˈɑːɹk wʌz ɪnˈɪʃəli bˈɪlt baɪ ðə sɪvˈɪliən kˌɑːnsɚvˈeɪʃən kˈɔːɹ dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə ɡɹˈeɪt dᵻpɹˈɛʃən, ɚɹˈaʊnd ðə nˈætʃɚɹəl daɪvˈɜːʒən ʌvðə lˈɪɾəl ˈɑːkməldʒˌiː ˌɪntʊ ɐ lˈeɪk.
Part of the park was initially built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, around the natural diversion of the Little Ocmulgee into a lake.