and to help regulate the status, treatment, and repairs of objects and buildings within the city that are designated as historic. Annual cultural events Since 2014 Ball Ground has held an annual Christmas parade called the March of the Toys Parade, which helps benefit the Toys for Tots program. It was estimated that approximately 5,000 people attended the event in 2017, where attendees are asked to bring unwrapped presents to donate to Toys for Tots. In the summers, Ball Ground's City Park hosts weekly movies and concerts. During Independence Day celebrations, the city hosts annual fireworks shows around the areas of City Park and Calvin Farmer Park in downtown Ball Ground. 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. These include several parks, including a park, baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, ponds, open fields, and wooded areas. Several of the parks also have walking trails and areas for fishing. There are two botanical gardens in Ball Ground. Ball Ground Botanical Gardens is a free-admission botanical garden that includes a butterfly-shaped walking trail. Gibbs Gardens is a property in Ball Ground that spans over and includes sixteen individual gardens including several ponds, bridge crossings, and waterfalls. In 2020 Business Jet Traveler ranked Gibbs Gardens #2 on its list of "13 best U.S. botanical gardens". Gibbs Gardens has over 20 million daffodils that bloom in the spring. outside of Ball Ground's city limits in unincorporated Ball Ground is the McGraw Ford Wildlife Management Area, a 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. Government Since the incorporation of the town in 1883, the city has been managed by a mayor and city council consisting of five council-members, which meet on the second Thursday of each month. The city government also consists of a city clerk, city attorney, and a city manager. The city has a municipal court which is held on the third Friday of each month. With the exception of a small police department managed by the city, most services are provided by Cherokee County, including animal control, building inspections, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, and jail operations. Cherokee County Fire Department is responsible for fire protection in Ball Ground, and Cherokee County