1 of 6
Photos courtesy The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks
2 of 6
Photos courtesy The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks
3 of 6
Photos courtesy The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks
4 of 6
Photos courtesy The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks
5 of 6
Photos courtesy The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks
6 of 6
Photos courtesy The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks
ANNAPOLIS, MD - The City of Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks celebrated the groundbreaking on the refurbishment of the Skate Park at Truxtun. The project is expected to cost approximately $437,449 and take six months to complete.
The new skate park will be constructed on the same footprint as the existing skate park, which is located off Primrose Lane on Truxtun Park Road near the boat launch. The redesign was inspired by local skaters who regularly use the park and wanted improvements in design, function, and safety.
Funding for the project was secured by the State of Maryland ($50,000 sponsored by Del. Dana Jones) and crowd-sourced on a Go Fund Me by the Barish family ($50,000) in honor of Tameron Barish, who died in 2021 just shy of his 21st birthday. Tameron Barish was a regular skater at the park. As part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2025, the remainder of the cost for skate park improvements, nearly $240,000, will come from City funds and capital bonds.
After the City was approached by Teegan Barish (Tameron’s sister) to renovate the skate park, the City hired Dave Bernier as a consultant to help identify needed upgrades. In early 2024, the City of Annapolis issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for design/build services. Pillar Design Studios was brought on to work with Bernier, City officials, and the community on design elements. Pillar is an action sports development firm that specializes in Skate/BMX/Moto sports design. The builder who won the bid is Artisan Skate Parks out of Kitty Hawk, NC.
‘“We are so excited to see a true public/private partnership result in the construction of a completely new skatepark for the Annapolis community!” Bernier said. “The City, with the Mayor’s leadership and creativity; the Barish family, with Teegan’s unwavering commitment; and the local Annapolis skateboard community, led by our good friends at Pure Board Shop; are doing something very special here. We are also thrilled to have the great folks at Artisan Skateparks/Pillar Design back in town on the project.”
The existing skate park was rehabbed in 2015 on the site of what was once a basketball court, but had been converted into a skate site with a few wooden ramps. The chain link fencing around the perimeter was one of the items the skateboarding community wanted to see removed. Additional design elements for the new park include ledges on either end of the park, pads in the middle at an appropriate height, and new transition points so the park will flow better.
“Tameron’s dedication to that park was unmatched – he knew our Parks crew by name, often knocking on their door to borrow a leaf blower so young people could fully enjoy the space,” said Annapolis Recreation and Parks Director Roslyn Johnson. “His absence is deeply felt by his family, friends, our parks crew, and all who knew him. This new skate park will stand as a testament to his spirit – a place for joy, connection, and living life to the fullest. We are thrilled to enhance the skate park for future generations and immensely grateful to everyone who helped make this project a reality.”
