Fodor's Expert Review Golden Square Freedom Park

This public park, opened in November 2021, is located in the southern area of Bridgetown. It offers visitors and locals an opportunity to relax, reflect, and learn about aspects of the island’s rich culture and heritage dating back to the 1930s. In addition to a display of 17th- and 18th-century items commonly used by the planter class (farmers who were wealthy, more educated, and politically inclined), the main attraction of the two-acre recreational space is the Builders of Barbados Wall, also known as the 1937 Memorial Wall. The engraved stones that make up this curved wall display the surnames (and, in some cases, first names) of all those who lived on the island. The park, which has a spacious seating area with a roof, is also dotted with some intense artwork encapsulating aspects of the 1937 riot, as well as pictures depicting historical facts. The 1937 riot, or 1937 labor rebellion, refers to the social unrest that took place on July 26, 1937, led by national hero Clement Payne, in response to what the Black population considered to be social, economic, and political oppression. At the time, native Blacks were mostly employed in agriculture and did not have access to the same opportunities as whites, who were considered the planter class.