If you have strolled through K.R. Barkman Park on Main Street in Steinbach lately, you may have noticed a new plaque honouring the namesake of the park, Klaas R. Barkman.
The Barkman family worked together with City staff to install the bronze plaque which provides a brief summary of the life of Steinbach’s first mayor. The plaque was mounted on a large stone in the middle of the park by the walking paths this past March.
The plaque reads as follows:
This park is dedicated to the memory of Klaas R Barkman.
Partners in the development of the park were the City of Steinbach, Government of Canada and the Barkman Concrete Foundation.
K.R. Barkman was born in Steinbach in 1893 and was raised in the community. In 1921 he and his wife Maria and their three children moved to Foam Lake, Saskatchewan where he had purchased a flour mill. He ran this mill until 1946 when he sold it and moved back to Steinbach.
In 1947 Steinbach was incorporated as a town and he became mayor, a position he held for the next 12 years. During his years in office, Steinbach saw many changes, including the paving of Main Street in 1947, the addition of sewer and water in 1956, and natural gas in 1957. Projects like these fostered community growth and encouraged further development of Steinbach as a wonderful place to live, work and play.
