In 2009, the name was changed to recognize the summit's association with John Ballard, an early black pioneer.

He was active in civic affairs and in 1872 was one of the founding members of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles.

[2] In 1880, Ballard picked up his family and moved about 50 miles (80 km) west to the Santa Monica Mountains.

[3] He distinguished himself as an extraordinary individual who worked hard and persevered, despite attempts by others to drive him off his land.

[3] The Ballard homesteads included a 2,031-foot peak (619 m) that stands in the mountains just south of today’s cities of Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills.