HOW BALL'S FERRY BECAME A STATE PARK

In the spring of 2001, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) initiated the study of the feasibility of developing a new State park on timberland along the Oconee River at the site of the old Ball’s Ferry in Wilkinson County. 

Plum Creek Company owned all of the land of interest and expressed a willingness to sell some of the approximately 720 acres of land to the State for park purposes. The idea for a state park was initiated by the Wilkinson County, under the leadership of Chairman Dennis Holder and supported by Johnson, Washington, Baldwin and Laurens County. Collectively they  proposed the idea to the DNR. The State legislature the appropriated funds for the DNR to proceed with a master plan study.

The planning began with a preliminary meeting with local officials in the area of the project site. Local interest in the project led to the formation of the Ball's Ferry Historical Park Association with members drawn from Wilkinson, Johnson, Washington, Baldwin and Laurens counties. Although the park land is located entirely within Wilkinson County, the four other counties have an interest because of the close proximity to their borders and the potential for economic growth. Based on the high level of interest in the preliminary meetings, the DNR sponsored the development of a master plan.