By Jondi Gumz
For 8-year-old Megan Carpenter, who lives near Willowbrook County Park, the new playground is bigger and that makes it better.
If Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller were with us, he’d probably smile to see families enjoying the improvements at the park, a place he himself enjoyed.
From left: Jeff Gaffney, Ethan Rumrill, Mariah Roberts, Megan Carpenter, Dan Freitas, Zach Friend. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
A 14-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and known as a family man, he lost his life in the line of duty on June 6, 2020.
On Nov. 13, a bright sunny day, the Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services hosted a ribbon-cutting for the new playground, which has a climbing apparatus, a rope ladder and a slide, complete with rubberized surfacing making it accessible to all children.
The new playground, which opened last week, results from collaboration by the County of Santa Cruz, County Park Friends and the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
County Park Friends raised $400,000, according to Mariah Roberts, who heads that organization and emphasized the importance of new surfacing for access.
Big donations came from the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which contributed $100,000, and Capitola-Soquel Rotary Club, which gave $50,000.
“Rarely does a day go by that we don’t think of him,” said Chief Deputy Dan Freitas.
Ethan Rumrill, president of the Deputy Sheriffs Association, recalled the “dark day” when the deputy was shot to death, appreciating how “people have come together to make something beautiful.”
Megan Carpenter at the top of the new playground slide. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
The project is being completed in phases, the first aspect the resurfaced courts which on Monday and Tuesday is devoted to the extremely popular sport of pickleball, the second the flagpole, third the playground, and finally, the memorial across the bridge to Sgt. Gutzwiller, which is under construction.
Boulders in the park came from the Sierra in recognition of an area he loved.
“We hope this playground will provide years of memories to Damon’s family and all families,” Santa Cruz County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney said. “The renovations at Willowbrook are an example of what happens when a community comes together, and this project will serve as a fitting memorial to Damon’s service and sacrifice.”
Supervisor Zach Friend, a frequent visitor to the park with his son, said, “Step-by-step, we are getting closer to fulfilling the promise to reimagine Willowbrook Park in Damon’s honor.”
He added, “These improvements provide for a safer, more accessible play area for our community and ensure that future generations of kids visiting the park can create the joyful memories that playgrounds uniquely bring.”
Indeed, after the ribbon-cutting, Jameson, 1, began exploring the playground’s steering wheel with his 2-year-old pal, Lucy.
The memorial area will include donor bricks and engraved pavers, a reflection bench seating area and new landscape plantings.
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For more information on the project, see www.countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook.html.
TOP PHOTO: Jameson, 1, at left, plays with friend Lucy, 2. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz