Barkman was educated in Steinbach-area schools, operated a small business in the city and married Agnes Reimer in 1945 (she died May 2, 2002).
Support for the Manitoba Liberal Party declined in the 1970s, and Barkman was defeated by Progressive Conservative Robert Banman by 525 votes in the provincial election of 1973.
In 1973, when the land was sold to the then "town" of Steinbach, the mayor at the time, A.D. Penner, had agreed verbally that the entire resulting park would remain strictly recreational.
In Dec. 2008, however, the city council decided to proceed with the residential development of a two-acre strip of land along the northern boundary of L.A. Barkman Park, fronting the extension of Woodhaven Ave., against the wishes of the original owner of the property, Justice Gordon J. Barkman, who had formerly served as a justice on Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench (1972–2001).
[7] Rezoning of land just outside the park, at the west end of Woodhaven Ave., was approved by the Manitoba Municipal Board, which allowed for the future development of a 5-storey, 128 unit apartment/condominium complex.