Annapolis officials broke ground on the Truxtun Skate Park, a full-circle moment for the family whose skater son died in 2021 and became an inspiration for the rebuilt facility.

Tameron Barish died weeks before his 21st birthday. The cause of death was never announced. According to Tameron’s father, Michael Barish, he skated at Truxtun Park almost every weekend.

“And while [Tameron] won’t be here with us, his spirit will be forever with us in his park,” Michael Barish said. “The park is going to be more than just a place to skate. It’s a safe and positive space where young people can grow, connect and thrive.”

Previously, the basketball-court-turned-skate-park had small, temporary fixtures, but now it will be a permanent cement skate park. According to Roslyn Johnson, director of the Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks, the city worked with area skaters for several years on a design that would fit the same footprint as the original.

Some of the new features include concrete walls and embankments, ledges on both sides, raised pads in the middle, as well as smoother transitions from concrete to grass in and out of the park.

The skate park, which is expected to open in June, has been under construction for several months now. The groundbreaking was supposed to happen in January but was delayed until Monday.

“Tameron often asked our parks crew for leaf blowers so he could clear off debris and make the area safe for himself and the other skaters. He continues to be missed by our team, and he knew all of them by name because he was here often,” Johnson said.

“We’re getting ready to transform it into a new facility that will inspire and welcome skaters for years to come,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley. “But today just isn’t about concrete and ramps. It’s about people. It’s about resilience. It’s about community and the power of coming together for something greater than ourselves.”

Truxtun Park includes a public pool, resurfaced tennis and pickleball courts, and a nearly million-dollar plan to reimagine its trails, some of which will be paved, Buckley said.

A GoFundMe started shortly after Barish’s death raised $50,000 as seed money for the skate park. With a total price of $350,000, $250,000 of the funding came from the City of Annapolis and the final $50,000 came from the state with the help of District 30A Del. Dana Jones.

“The grief of losing a child, a son, a brother, is unimaginable, but your strength to seeing this project through is truly admirable,” Jones said. “And I just want to thank you for that. This skate park is only happening because of the commitment that the Barish family, especially Teegan [his sister], has shown for seeing this project through.”

Barish had been skating at the park since he was 6 years old and often made his own video compilations set to music.

“We didn’t have a memorial service for Tameron, so I think this is more of a memorial service for him, to be laid to rest, so to speak, and for us doing something really good for the community,” Michael Barish said.

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