Ballard Park (Melbourne, Florida)

28°07′19″N 80°37′31″W / 28.12207°N 80.62517°W / 28.12207; -80.62517

Ballard Park
Ballard Park entrance
Map
TypePublic park
Location924 Thomas Barbour Drive
Melbourne, Florida
Area10 acres (40,000 m2)[1]
Operated byCity of Melbourne[1]
OpenAll year

Ballard Park is a public park located at 924 Thomas Barbour Drive, Melbourne, Florida and is situated on the Indian River Lagoon and the Eau Gallie River in what was historically Eau Gallie, FL. It contains diverse recreational facilities and amenities, including boat ramps, lighted tennis courts and a pavilion.[1] The park also contains a memorial to naturalist and author Thomas Barbour, who frequented the shell mounds on the park grounds as a boy.[2]

Two archeologists have speculated that the park is on the site of the former Ais Indian town of Pentoaya, where they spent their summers.[3]

The Melbourne High School rowing team bases their training here.[citation needed]

  1. ^ a b c City of Melbourne, Parks Division. “Community Parks: Ballard Park” Archived 2007-12-18 at the Wayback Machine, City of Melbourne, Florida website. Retrieved on February 06, 2008.
  2. ^ Bowe Gardeners. A Tribute to Thomas Barbour (1884 - 1946) memorial dated 1976 located in Ballard Park, Melbourne, Florida.
  3. ^ Waymer, Jim (April 2, 2013). "Life in the time of Ponce". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A, 3A.