Fundraising is now underway for a new accessible and inclusive playground in Burlington’s Dankwardt Park.
The new playground will replace an outdated one that is not fully accessible.
Eric Tysland, Director of Development and Parks, said the goal is to create a destination playground that is safe, challenging, and fun for youth of all ages and abilities in southeast Iowa and the surrounding area.
The new park would be ADA-compliant and have play elements, rubber surfacing, accessible parking and sidewalk connections, and new signage and other amenities.
“It isn’t just a playground, it’s also quality of life aspect,” Tysland said. “It plays a role in attracting and retaining residents”
Plans for the park were developed with public input.
The price tag with all amenities is $1.9 million, and more than a third of that has already been raised through grants and donations.
Tylsand said the next step is a letter campaign to local businesses and a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of publicizing the campaign and garnering smaller donations.
“Every dollar counts, whether it’s five dollars or ten dollars or fifty dollars,” he said.
Dankwardt Park is city-owned and adjacent to Crapo Park in southeast Burlington. Other amenities in the park are a municipal pool, tennis courts, and a disc golf course.
More information is available online.
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