Winder Legacy Park: A Place Where Barrow Gathers
Winder Legacy Park has become one of the best examples of what the Barrow Community Foundation exists to do: turn generosity into a lasting legacy for the betterment of the people of our community. What began as a public-private vision for the former school property on the CFIT campus is now a free, daily gathering place for children, parents, grandparents, visitors, and neighbors. Phase II gives the Foundation an opportunity to build on that momentum with more activities and amenities that keep the park vibrant, welcoming, and useful for families across Barrow County.
The Foundation partnered with the Barrow County School System to plan Phase I. Over the course of three years, the Foundation raised $5.5 million for design, engineering, and construction, and opened the park with a ribbon cutting and grand opening festival in June 2024. Today, the park includes a 1/3-mile walking trail, an event field, pavilions, restrooms, and an ADA-accessible destination playground featuring the Barrowsaurus, a 28-foot rope pyramid. Future master-plan amenities include a splashpad, more shade trees, sports courts, reading nooks, a pollinator meadow, an outdoor classroom/amphitheater, a tree house, dog parks, and additional parking. In May 2026, the City of Winder took ownership of the park to maintain it as a lasting source of pride for our community. The next step is a $2.2 million campaign to fund Phase II in partnership with the City of Winder.
Upon arriving at the park, visitors find something for everyone: a child racing toward the climbing structure, a caregiver resting in the shade, and friends meeting in a place that belongs to the whole community. Park visionaries Doug Mitchell and Philip Gossling shared their hope to build the new park with Chris Maddox, who spearheaded the fundraising effort. Together, they determined that the Barrow Community Foundation was the perfect platform to manage the campaign. “Winder Legacy Park shows what happens when a community chooses to build joy together,” said BCF Board Chair Doug Mitchell. “It is not just a park; it is a promise that families in Barrow County deserve places where they can gather, play, and belong.”
