Skate Park Renovation Breaks Ground, Honors Late Skater In Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis broke ground on a skate park renovation recently in honor of a young skater lost too soon.

The overhaul will upgrade the existing skate park with better facilities. The project is slated to cost $437,449 and take six months to complete.

The City of Annapolis said the park will honor Tameron Barish, who died in 2021 just before his 21st birthday.

"Tameron Barish was a regular skater at the park," the city said in a March 3 Instagram post after the groundbreaking ceremony. "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."

The Barish family contributed $50,000 to construction via a crowd-sourced fundraiser on GoFundMe. Another $50,000 came from the State of Maryland through a push led by Del. Dana Jones. The City of Annapolis will pay for the rest with bonds and its budget through its Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2025.

"The redesign was inspired by local skaters who regularly use the park and wanted improvements in design, function, and safety," Annapolis said in the post.

Related: Secret Skate Park Demolished, Builders Turn Page In Anne Arundel County

The city issued a request for proposals in early 2024 for design and build services.

Annapolis selected action sports development firm Pillar Design Studios to handle the design. Pillar specializes in skate, BMX and motorsport designs.

The builder is Artisan Skate Parks from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

The park is located off Primrose Lane on Truxtun Park Road near the boat launch.