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.
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.
Below: Memorial concept drawings, courtesy of SSA Landscape Architects
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 PLAQUE - Friend Level Sponsor $1000+
All donors who donate between $1000-$4999 will be listed on the Memorial Plaque as "Friends"
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.)
Memorial plaque - champion LEVEL SPONSOR $5000+
All donors who donate between $5,000-$24,999 will be listed on the Memorial Plaque as "Champions"
eternal flag area sponsor
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
The Memorial Bench Area will include a space for reflection, looking back at the Eternal Flag. Opportunity: Three sponsors will be recognized on boulders set around circle, inset with personalized engraved plaques.
Park Entry monument sign sponsor
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.
New playground area Sponsor
The new Playground Area will include upgraded play equipment and accessibility improvements to the play surface.. Opportunity: Two sponsors will be recognized on boulders set near playground, inset with personalized engraved plaques. Drawings of Playground Improvements coming soon.
Memorial Plaque - project partner level $25,000+
Donors above $25,000 will be listed on the Memorial Plaque as "Partners"
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 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
