#Wausau Monk Gardens

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Embattled Monk Gardens director steps down

On Wednesday, the board announced Howard's departure.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review After months of controversy in the community, Monk Gardens Executive Director Darcie Howard will step down from her role, according to a news release from the organization. The Monk Botanical Gardens board has accepted the resignation of Darcie Howard, effective early July.  “We would like to thank Darcie for her seven years of service to the gardens.…

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Letters: Monk Gardens family member sounds off on renaming decision

The son of Robert Monk III has sharp words for garden leadership - and the decision to change the name.

To the editor:I want to express my gratitude for the outpouring of community support our family has received in our efforts to restore my father’s name to the botanical garden he so generously donated in 2004. The current Board of Directors, and the current garden professional leadership, has been a profound disappointment. Not one person from garden leadership, board or staff, has ever…

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"A slap in the face:" Hundreds sign petition to retain Monk Gardens name in Wausau

A decision to rename Monk Botanical Gardens has sparked enormous public outrage, with hundreds of people signing a petition that asks for reconsideration.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review A decision to rename Monk Botanical Gardens has sparked enormous public outrage, with hundreds of people signing a petition that asks for reconsideration. Monk Botanical Gardens will become Wausau Botanic Gardens, according to a news release issued Friday. The petition to reverse that decision, launched by Kolton Heldt, garnered more than 360…

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Monk Gardens changes name, announces "new chapter" in Wausau

What do you think of the new name?

Wausau Pilot & Review Monk Botanical Gardens will become Wausau Botanic Gardens, according to a news release issued Friday. The release from Executive Director Darcie Howard said the decision was made after discussion and consideration by the board of directors and staff in light of “blossoming growth and budding presence across the region and even statewide.” Monk Botanical Gardens, 1800 N.…

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Rotarian group awards $38K to not-for-profits

Well done!

WAUSAU – Wausau Early Bird Rotarians awarded Nov. 14 $38,000 to five not-for-profit organizations in the Wausau area. Recipients Monk Botanical Gardens – $2,500 for the Sprouts program Bridge St. Mission- $15,000 over three years starting in 2024  Habitat for Humanity-$5,000 for a construction trailer Children’s Imaginarium- $15,000 – Over three years  The Salvation Army of Wausau – $500…

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Your letters: Community should heed Monk family's call to come together

A Wausau reader applauds the Monk family's willingness to pull the community together:

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. Dear editor, There has…

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Monk Gardens pauses construction to meet with family

The latest:

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review A planned parking lot upgrade at Monk Gardens is on pause to allow leaders at the embattled organization an opportunity to meet with members of the Monk family. Dist. 7 Alder Lisa Rasmussen, who is president of the Wausau City Council and represents the area in which Monk Gardens is located, said a meeting is set for Tuesday between the family and…

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Group demands halt to Monk Gardens construction amid allegations of mismanagement

The request follows a June 4 appearance by Monk Botanical Gardens Board President Paul David at a contentious Rib Mountain meeting on a Tourism Commission funding request.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review The Save Robert Monk’s Gardens Community Group this week issued a news release that demands an immediate halt to construction the gardens, which have been under fire for months after a controversial name change announcement. The group this week issued a letter to the Gardens Board of Directors and the city of Wausau urging Phase 1 of the organization’s…

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Your letters: Former Monk Botanical Gardens board member recalls early days with Monk

Dear editor, An open letter to the executive director and the board of directors of the Wausau Botanic Garden, fka Monk Botanical Gardens, Inc. & also fka Robert W. Monk Botanical Gardens, Inc. Steven Roberts (black hat) with Robert Monk, second from left. Photo courtesy Steve Roberts. I have been waiting for the right moment to publish this message locally, since my original posting was only…

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Weston Tourism Commission denies funding for Monk Gardens event, Pride festival

Weston's Tourism Commission on Monday unanimously rejected a request by Monk Botanical Gardens for funding supporting its annual Blossom of Lights festival, amid continued controversy surrounding the organization.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review Weston’s Tourism Commission on Monday unanimously rejected a request by Monk Botanical Gardens for funding supporting its annual Blossom of Lights festival, amid continued controversy surrounding the organization. The Commission also rejected funding for Wausau Pride, a June 1 festival that celebrates and raises awareness for the LGBT community. The…

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Your Letters: Tom Monk speaks out on garden name controversy

Tom Monk, in a letter to the editor, has a lot to say about the Gardens renaming controversy:

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. Dear editor, I read the…

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Monk Botanical Gardens seeks funding from Weston as naming controversy lingers

Monk Botanical Gardens will formally ask Weston's Tourism Commission next week for funding to support its annual Blossom of Lights festival, as the furor over the organization's proposed name change shows no sign of slowing.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review Monk Botanical Gardens will formally ask Weston’s Tourism Commission next week for funding to support its annual Blossom of Lights festival, as the furor over the organization’s proposed name change shows no sign of slowing. An agenda for the May 20 Tourism Commission, found at this link, shows the Gardens will request $10,000 from the Weston Room Tax…

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JUST IN: Monk Gardens reverses renaming decision after weeks of controversy

After weeks of protests and thousands of petition signatures, the board of directors at Monk Botanical Gardens on Wednesday reversed its decision to rename the organization.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review After weeks of protests and thousands of petition signatures, the board of directors at Monk Botanical Gardens on Wednesday reversed its decision to rename the organization. In a statement Wednesday, the board also issued an apology for the decision. Renaming Monk Botanical Gardens “Wausau Botanic Gardens” sparked enormous outcry from the community,…

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Your letters: Reader questions priorities of former Monk Botanical Gardens current board

A reader questions board decisions - and the direction of the organization - as the Monk Gardens debate continues:

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. Dear editor, We have all…

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Your Letters: Monk's son says renaming decision cannot stand

Robert Monk IV: This is a community struggle, and this struggle will continue until the Monk name, in honor of my father, is restored.

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. To the editor I was just…

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Wausau Botanic Gardens stands firm on name change, commits to honoring Monk's legacy

The latest:

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review The board of directors for the former Monk Botanical Gardens in Wausau will “explore additional ways to honor Robert W. Monk’s legacy” but stopped short of overturning a decision on a controversial name change that resulted in sharp public outcry in the community. In a carefully-worded news release Wednesday from Wausau Botanic Gardens Executive…