Darwin Duwe playground equipment fundraiser

By Caroline Rosacker

Darwin Duwe 1959-1982

The late Darwin Duwe 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 the Rookie of the Year award. 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 ground work for the field before he passed away. The Darwin Duwe ball field has expanded since that time, and the City of Guttenberg is once again asking area residents to "Step up to the plate" and donate to the cause. 

Athletic Complex Improvements

Guttenberg city employees, appointed members of the Recreation (Rec) Board, and community volunteers have been working together in an effort 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 this year," said City Manager Denise Schneider. "The tennis court has been resurfaced and new basketball hoops have been installed. Terry Moser has stepped forward and is paying to have pickleball marks applied to the resurfaced court."

This spring the swimming pool parking lot was expanded, and area veterans and the city made numerous improvements to the Clayton County Freedom Rock and Limbeck Pond area. "Money has been raised through grants and in-kind donations to create a skate park. The cement slab and equipment will be a nice asset to the athletic complex," Schneider commented. "In addition, we added a practice area for soccer west of the Darwin Duwe Field, and improvements were made to the field along with a new concession stand a few years ago. The city also has plans to pave the parking lot adjacent to the Hadyn Street city shop, and add a handicap accessible sidewalk that will connect the parking lot to the playground and ball field."

Darwin Duwe playground 

"The Rec Board has been thinking about replacing the aging playground equipment at the Darwin Duwe Field for quite some time, but wanted to complete the swimming pool project first," she commented. 

The new playground equipment will be ADA compliant and include climbing equipment, slides and a handicap accessible, ground-level activity panel. A poured-in-place rubber safety surface will be installed under the new equipment. "The poured-in-place rubber surface will be the first in our area. The new playground will be moved closer to the ball field and away from the street for family safety and convenience," she noted.  "We are looking to purchase a face-to-face, two-seated glider to add to the swing set. This would allow parents with young children, or special needs children to swing together." 

Schneider estimated the costs, saying, "The poured-in-place rubber safety surface will cost approximately $19,000. The playground equipment will cost around $25,000. City workers and volunteers will install the playground equipment, saving the city $11,750,00." 

She continued, "I have applied for grant money from the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation, Kwik Star and Casey's. This money will be used to help cover the cost of the groundwork and the poured-in-place surface." 

Because of social distancing regulations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an in-person fund raising event will not be planned. "Currently we are asking for in-kind donations to help offset project costs," said Schneider. "Our goal is to have the project completed by next spring. The north end of Guttenberg will have an attractive, handicap accessible athletic complex that area residents and visitors to the our community can enjoy."

If you have any questions, or would like to make a donation, to the Darwin Duwe playground equipment project, contact the city office at 563-252-1161 or e-mail gbcity@alpinecom.net.