Editing Ball Ground, Georgia (section)

==Parks and recreation==
Ball Ground has several dedicated parks and recreational facilities within the city that are managed by the city's parks and recreation department.<ref name="ordinances_ch20">{{cite act |type=Code of Ordinances |date=February 6, 2020 |article=20 – Parks and Recreation |article-type=Chapter |title=Ball Ground, Georgia - Code of Ordinances |url=https://library.municode.com/ga/ball_ground/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH20PARE }} {{Cite web |url=https://library.municode.com/ga/ball_ground/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH20PARE |title=Municode Library |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928041658/https://library.municode.com/ga/ball_ground/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH20PARE |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> These include a {{cvt|15|acre|ha sqmi}} park, baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, ponds, open fields, and wooded areas.<ref name="discga">{{Cite web |title=Ball Ground |url=https://www.discovergeorgiaoutdoors.com/locate-it/historic-high-country/ball-ground/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928042136/https://www.discovergeorgiaoutdoors.com/locate-it/historic-high-country/ball-ground/ |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |website=Discover Georgia Outdoors}}</ref> Several of the parks also have walking trails and areas for fishing.<ref name="parksandrec">{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2019 |title=Parks & Recreation |url=https://cityofballground.com/parks-recreation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130081204/https://cityofballground.com/parks-recreation/ |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |website=City of Ball Ground Georgia}}</ref>

There are two [[botanical garden]]s in Ball Ground. Ball Ground Botanical Gardens is a free-admission {{cvt|0.75|acre|ha sqmi}} botanical garden that includes a butterfly-shaped walking trail.<ref name="ritchie">{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Logan C. |date=July 25, 2022 |title=Grand Gardens: From Atlanta to the North Georgia mountains |url=http://reporternewspapers.net/2022/07/25/grand-gardens-from-atlanta-to-the-north-georgia-mountains/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917134551/https://reporternewspapers.net/2022/07/25/grand-gardens-from-atlanta-to-the-north-georgia-mountains/ |archive-date=September 17, 2022 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Reporter Newspapers & Atlanta Intown}}</ref><ref name="dc">{{Cite web |title=Destination Cherokee |url=https://www.exploregeorgia.org/sites/default/files/listing_images/ac6d11ad4f3695465552e5cbb79453ab_2018CherokeeCountyGuideFINALLoRes.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707190710/https://www.exploregeorgia.org/sites/default/files/listing_images/ac6d11ad4f3695465552e5cbb79453ab_2018CherokeeCountyGuideFINALLoRes.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=ExploreGeorgia.org}}</ref>{{rp|8}} Gibbs Gardens is a property in Ball Ground that spans over {{cvt|300|acre|ha sqmi}} and includes sixteen individual gardens including several ponds, bridge crossings, and waterfalls.<ref name="gibbs_history">{{Cite web |title=Gibbs Gardens History |url=https://gibbsgardens.com/about/garden-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420015255/https://www.gibbsgardens.com/about/garden-history/ |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Gibbs Gardens}}</ref><ref name="milliken">{{Cite web |last=Milliken |first=Paul |date=October 27, 2021 |title='Wild' fall colors bloom at Ball Ground's Gibbs Gardens |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/wild-fall-colors-bloom-at-ball-grounds-gibbs-gardens |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127014719/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/wild-fall-colors-bloom-at-ball-grounds-gibbs-gardens |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=[[WAGA-TV|FOX 5 Atlanta]]}}</ref> In 2020 [[Business Jet Traveler]] ranked Gibbs Gardens #2 on its list of "13 best U.S. botanical gardens".<ref name="goldsmith">{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Margie |date=2020 |title=13 Best U.S. Botanical Gardens |work=[[Business Jet Traveler]] |url=https://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/13-best-us-botanical-gardens |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325051739/https://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/13-best-us-botanical-gardens |archive-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref><ref name="gibbs_pr">{{Cite press release |title=Gibbs Gardens Named to '2020 Best Botanical Gardens in America' List |date=September 22, 2020 |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/gibbs-gardens-named-to-2020-best-botanical-gardens-in-america-list-868202798.html |access-date=September 25, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016070131/https://www.prweb.com/releases/gibbs_gardens_named_to_2020_best_botanical_gardens_in_america_list/prweb17411907.htm |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |website=[[Cision]]}}</ref> Gibbs Gardens has over 20 million [[daffodil]]s that bloom in the spring.<ref name="sumptuous">{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2015 |title=Fall Foliage at Atlanta's Gibbs Gardens |url=https://sumptuousliving.net/gibbs-gardens/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512085439/https://sumptuousliving.net/gibbs-gardens/ |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Sumptuous Living}}</ref><ref name="aotc">{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2022 |title=Visit Gibbs Gardens for colorful blooms this spring |url=https://www.atlantaonthecheap.com/gibbs-gardens/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307170046/https://www.atlantaonthecheap.com/gibbs-gardens/ |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Atlanta on the Cheap}}</ref>

{{cvt|1.9|mi|km}} outside of Ball Ground's city limits<ref name="gmaps_mcgraw">{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ball+Ground+City+Limits,+410+Gilmer+Ferry+Rd,+Ball+Ground,+GA+30107/McGraw+Ford+WMA,+Ball+Ground+Road,+Ball+Ground,+GA/@34.3298351,-84.3699081,15z/am=t/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x88f57d8917e3621f:0x794bb604b4eb6086!2m2!1d-84.3734089!2d34.3366762!1m5!1m1!1s0x88f57e9b5548fb1d:0x8d8b6c5b373483cf!2m2!1d-84.348877!2d34.3229591 |title=Ball Ground, Georgia City Limits to McGraw Ford Wildlife Management Area |access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref> in unincorporated Ball Ground<ref name="mfwma" /> is the McGraw Ford Wildlife Management Area, a {{cvt|2255|acre|ha sqmi}} [[wildlife management area]] along the [[Etowah River]] that is managed by the [[Georgia Department of Natural Resources]] with various multi-purpose trails along with fishing and hunting areas.<ref name="discga" /><ref name="mfwma">{{Cite web |title=McGraw Ford WMA |url=https://georgiawildlife.com/mcgraw-ford-wma |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527184845/https://georgiawildlife.com/mcgraw-ford-wma |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |website=[[Georgia Department of Natural Resources]] Wildlife Resources Division}}</ref>