Atkinson Park is a busy, vibrant recreational facility. A soccer field, outdoor swimming pool and skateboard park attract local youth. The outdoor pool is open from late June until Labour Day.
Friends of Atkinson Park and Pool Committee (FFAPPC), a volunteer non-profit group, has been working on a variety of events to fund improvements within the park, including the skateboard park, which has been officially named the Ryan Barron Memorial Skate Park.
Ward 2 Councillor Fabio Costante welcomed members of the Barron family and friends at a dedication ceremony and sign unveiling in the park on May 16, 2023.
"Honouring Ryan in this way was a community effort,” said Councillor Costante. “Ryan's family and friends and skateboarders across the region all played a role in this effort, along with City Council who endorsed the naming of the skate park. It is a source of great joy and pride – but also very humbling – to see this through, and I know many in our community feel the same."
Ryan Barron was a well-known skateboarding and music enthusiast in Windsor who frequented the skate park and shared his passion with whomever was there. He lost his life in 2016 when struck by a car while skateboarding.
After his death, his family and the Friends of Atkinson Park and Pool Committee (FFAPPC) began a fundraising campaign aimed at adding a skate bowl to the park in Ryan’s memory. A skate bowl is estimated to cost approximately $300,000. We can take all donations at our Parks Administration office located 2450 McDougall Street. All donations for the skateboard park should be made payable directly to the City of Windsor for Atkinson Park/Barron Bowl.