Dankwardt Park Playground Project

Playground Project Cover

This large-scale project will replace the existing Dankwardt Park playground with new playground structures, play elements, surfacing, sidewalk connections, and site amenities that are inclusive, accessible, challenging and imaginative.  The layout will allow individuals of all ages and abilities to explore, have fun, interact, and enjoy the park like never before.  

Please include the donation form if you would like to help fund this park, or you may donate online by visiting our GoFundMe page.  Donation Opens in new window

  1. Funding
  2. Donors
  3. Images
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The final design is completed for this playground! Burlington Parks staff has a finalized fundraising goal of $1.77 million. Expenses  include site preparation, play equipment, accessible surfacing, professional installation, ancillary equipment and features (i.e. sidewalks, lighting, seating, water fountains, etc.) and playground accessibility.

Current Funding - $1,567,600

Project Goal - $1,770,000


How To Donate:
City of Burlington
400 Washington St. 
Burlington, IA 52601
Friends of Burlington Parks
PO Box 1341
Burlington, IA 52601
Please list 'Dankwardt Playground' in the memo line of the check. 


Please include our Donation form when making donations.

Project Site

Dankwardt Park is Burlington's premier active park.  Features within Dankwardt Park include archery range, baseball diamonds, disc golf course, tennis courts, municipal pool, skate park, dog park and much more. Dankwardt Park is also situated directly next to Crapo Park, our park system's passive park where you can find amenities including Lake Starker, the Hawk Eye Log Cabin, Shakespeare Garden, scenic overlooks, and the Arboretum. This location also has two adjacent, reserveable shelters, a newly updated restroom, and an access drive with dedicated parking.  The existing playground being replaced in Dankwardt is nearly 40 years old and has had components removed in recent years due to age and deterioration.  Having a new playground of the planned scope will add great value to the existing, well-loved amenities in this area and provide the community and region with a  safe, inclusive place to play, develop skills, and have fun.

Playground Elements

Parks staff is working very closely with Confluence Design Firm to make this a destination playground that is inclusive to all. It is a priority for the City to include elements in this playground that will allow all children to be challenged, included and implement a free play concept in choosing what events to use. We are using design that taps into children's intuitive development and sense of adventure, challenges motor skills, strength and agility, increases hand-eye coordination and develops and creative level of problem solving. The playground public open house and input survey completed in Fall of 2021 focused on the following three areas:

  • Development Skills (Balance, Interactive, Challenging, etc.)
  • Equipment Options (Play Structures, Slides, Obstacles, Climbers, etc.)
  • Inclusive Events (Musical Instruments, Chair Swings, Inclusive Spinners, etc.)

Best practices are being taken into consideration for playground layout. These include accessibility, age separation, sight lines, signage and organization of activities by category (i.e. spacing for heavy-use equipment, dispersing active and quiet activities throughout, etc.).

  1. Ryan Gourley

    Parks Superintendent

  2. Eric Tysland

    Development & Parks Director

  3. Brad Selby

    Recreation / Golf Course Manager

  4. Jocelynn Krebill

    Project Coordinator

Dankwardt Park Playground Project Timeline

Timeline of past events:

  • August 16, 2022 - Town Hall at Burlington Public Library 
  • July 13, 2022 - Parks & Recreation Month Open House at Playground Site
  • January 31, 2022 - Presentation to City Council on Playground Project status
  • August 17, 2021 - Public Input Session at Dankwardt Park Playground
    Survey was available online as well as in-person to collect feedback on design options
    Online Survey Link