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About
On June 6, 2020, Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was killed in the line of duty while serving Santa Cruz County.  Sergeant Gutzwiller grew up in Santa Cruz County, owned his first home in the Willowbrook Neighborhood and frequented Willowbrook Park with his dog Shasta. This Memorial will ensure Damon's sacrifice is never forgotten.
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The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, a non-profit community outreach organization, is leading this memorial effort, sponsored by the non-profit County Park Friends. Partners include the Santa Cruz County Parks Department and District 2 County Supervisor Zach Friend.
View of the Eternal Flag from the Memorial Bench Area
Major Donors
to the Willowbrook Park Memorial Tribute to ​Sergeant Damon Gutzweiller
will be recognized on the main park plaque at the following levels:
Patrons Level:
​All donors who donate $100,000 or more will be listed
Santa Cruz Deputy Sheriffs Association, County of Santa Cruz
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Advocates Level:
All donors who donate between $25,000 and $99,999 will be listed
Kaiser Permanente

​​Champions Level:
All donors who donate between $5,000 and $24,999 will be listed
Mari Rossi, Christann Bohnet, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Robert and Carol Simpkins Family Fund

Friends Level: 
All donors who donate between $1,000 and $4,999 will be listed 
Dr. Edward Menges & Mrs. Debra D. Menges, Geri Zaballos, Michael Zaballos, Theresa Zaballos Bush, & Laurie Zaballos Flores, Santa Cruz County DA Inspectors Association, Justin Williams, Michael Hill, Christine Swannack, The Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers' Association, K&S Ryan Family Trust, Robert W Fifield, Dan & Gracia Krakauer - Red Apple Cafe - Aptos, Aptos Property Group, Twin Lakes Church, Granite Construction
​Sponsorship Opportunities:
Click below for more details and to Sponsor
Memorial Bridge Area plaque $150
Opportunity: Add your name on a personalized plaque displayed on the Memorial Bridge connecting the Memorial Bench Area to the upgraded Playground area. Each donor at $150 can list 24 characters: For ex.  "The Johnsons" or "John & Julie Johnson"
For messages longer than 24 characters, see the Brick or Paver options below.
memorial bench area - personalized ENGRAVED BRICK $275
Opportunity: Engrave a personalized message on a 4"X8" Bricks forming the heart of the Memorial Bench Area.
There are 1000 Bricks available, each offering 42 characters total (14 characters per line, 3 lines.)
For messages with greater than 42 characters, see the Engraved Paver option below.
MEMORIAL BENCH AREA - PERSONALIZED ENGRAVED PAVER $2500 ​
Opportunity: Engrave a personalized message on a curved 20"X4" Engraved Paver forming the internal heart of the Memorial Bench Area.
There are 10 Pavers, each offering 219 characters total (73 characters per line, 3 lines.)
PARK ENTRY MONUMENT SIGN SPONSOR - SPONSORED AT $15,000
The Park Entry Monument Sign Area will welcome all to the Memorial and Park, just before the Eternal Flag, with a view to the Memorial Bench Area.
Opportunity: One sponsor will be recognized on a boulder set around circle, inset with a personalized engraved plaque.
ETERNAL FLAG AREA - 2 SPONSORships - 1 sponsored, 1 available AT $20,000 EACH
The Eternal Flag Area will include a space for reflection, just past the Park entry.
Opportunity: Two sponsors will be recognized on boulders set around circle, inset with personalized engraved plaques.
MEMORIAL BENCH AREA SPONSOR - 2 SPONSORSHIPS AT $25,000 EACH
The Memorial Bench Area will include a space for reflection, looking back at the Eternal Flag.
Opportunity: Two sponsors will be recognized on boulders set around circle, inset with personalized engraved plaques.
NEW PLAYGROUND AREA SPONSORED AT $50,000
The new Playground Area will include upgraded play equipment and accessibility improvements to the play surface..
SPONSORED!!!!! Thanks to Capitola-Aptos Rotary for sponsoring this entire element!
Below: Memorial concept drawings, courtesy of SSA Landscape Architects
Click above to donate online
and for information about how to:


Mail a check to: 
County Park Friends
Subject line: Willowbrook Memorial, 
870 17th Ave STE 2 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 
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We also accept:
Gifts of Stock
ACH/EBT Transfers
​Corporate Matches
County Park Friends has a Platinum rating on Guidestar​
Our Mission is to preserve, protect, improve and promote the use of ​Santa Cruz County parks and open spaces for
recreational activities, arts and cultural activities to benefit all generations in our diverse community.
Donations to County Park Friends are tax deductible as a 501(c)(3) organization
​Tax ID #77-0209249
Financial Breakdown of Campaign Below
Memorial Campaign Goal: $805,000
County Park Friends 2022