Duwe field & playground nears completion
The new playground equipment at the Darwin Duwe Ball Field & Playground is ADA compliant and includes climbing equipment, slides and three handicap accessible, ground-level activity panels. A poured-in-place rubber safety surface was installed under the new equipment. (Press photo by Caroline Rosacker)
By Caroline Rosacker
The late Darwin Duwe (1959-1982) of Guttenberg was an avid baseball player and fan. He was a member of the Guttenberg Jaycees and dedicated his time to Little League. Darwin was employed with Mid America Transportation Corp. as a deckhand on the Ann King when he slipped off the barge and drowned in January 1982. He was 22 years old.
Darwin was an exceptional, civic-minded individual for his young age. He was a member of the Jaycees and was awarded the Outstanding Jaycee of the Quarter award for Region D, recognized for his work with youth Little League baseball and softball. He was a member of the Guttenberg Fire Department, earning Rookie of the Year. He served on the St. John's Lutheran Church council and was a member of city cemetery board.
In September 1982, as a result of successful fund raising efforts, the Jaycees dedicated a new youth ball field in memory of the committed volunteer. In his speech, Jaycees president Gary Mick dedicated the ball field to the memory of Duwe, who before his death was one of Guttenberg's most dedicated workers in Little League, and did the groundwork for the field before he passed away. The Darwin Duwe ball field has expanded since that time, and the City of Guttenberg is finishing up on improvements to the athletic complex.
Darwin Duwe Ball Field & Playground
Guttenberg city employees, appointed members of the Recreation (Rec) Board, and community volunteers have been working together to spruce up and create an athletic and visitor complex in the north end of Guttenberg.
"The area that surrounds the newly-built swimming pool has seen a number of improvements in recent years," said City Manager Denise Schneider. "The tennis court has been resurfaced and new basketball hoops have been installed. Area veterans and the city made numerous improvements to the Clayton County Freedom Rock and Limbeck Pond area."
In June, community volunteers laid the second of two slabs of concrete for the skate park at Darwin Duwe field. The project has been completely funded through the generosity of local donors and volunteers, along with a grant from the McElroy Trust. The purpose of the project was to re-install the city's skate equipment and provide a space for local youth. "Money has been raised through grants and in-kind donations to create a skate park. The cement slab and equipment are a nice asset to the athletic complex," Schneider commented. "There are plans for additional ramps. In fact, Josh Gomez is building one now."
The city added a practice area for soccer players west of the Darwin Duwe Field, and improvements were made to the field along with a new concession stand a few years ago. A paved parking lot was laid adjacent to the Haydn Street city shop, and plans for a handicap accessible sidewalk that will connect the parking lot to the playground and ball field, and another sidewalk connecting that area to the skate park will be added once grant money has been secured.
"The new playground equipment is set up closer to the ball field and away from the street for family safety and convenience," says Schneider. "The metal swing set and climber will be moved closer to the new equipment at Duwe Field while the old equipment will be moved to its new location near the Vets Ball Field, soccer field and pickle ball courts on the south end of Guttenberg behind Casey's."
Updated equipment
The new playground equipment is ADA compliant and includes climbing equipment, slides and three handicap accessible, ground-level activity panels – tic-tac-toe, drums and a lemonade stand. A poured-in-place rubber safety surface has been installed under the new equipment. "The new rubber surface will be the first in our area, " she noted. "We would still like to purchase a face-to-face, two-seated glider to add to the swing set. This would allow parents with children, or adults and special needs individuals, to swing together. They are pretty expensive. We will need to apply for a grant to cover the costs."
The city is still accepting donations. If you have any questions, or would like to make a donation to the Darwin Duwe Ball Field & Playground equipment fund please contact the city office at 563-252-1161 or e-mail gbergcty@alpinecom.net.
