Phase I: In last year’s spring newsletter, we discussed no longer being “Wausau’s Best Kept Secret.” In less than a year, we will be “hard to miss” as we look forward to completing the first of three phases of the Gardens’ innovative master plan that looks to the future.

The Gardens started with just the soil; a group of volunteers were handed a piece of land and had to do something with it. We are now moving into an era where it’s not just about the gardens; it’s about the community and space we are creating that invite people to be a part of something unique. Today, the sky is the limit!

Phase I will be a work in progress this summer through the end of the year. This phase will finally give the Gardens a proper gatehouse entrance with a gorgeous parking lot, immediately letting you know you are in a botanical garden. We will start collecting fees in early 2025, which is bittersweet, but as we continue to grow, we must increase our operating funds. Staying true to our values will not be a prohibiting factor when we start charging at the gatehouse. We will still accommodate everyone, as members will get in free all year (and free to over 360 botanical gardens around the country), and we will have a fund for anyone with a financial hardship who would like a membership.

Phase I will accomplish the following goals by constructing or renovating the following:

1. Security: Adding a more secure yet attractive fencing along 4th Ave and Crabtree Dr, combined with a state-of-the-art security system, will allow the Gardens to host special exhibits, install artwork and other valuable features that will enhance the surrounding gardens, and showcase a new ginseng garden educating all about this valuable, local commodity.

2. Classic Beauty: The English Garden, located just north of the kitchen garden, will provide the “wow” factor at the entrance and a beautiful, enchanting space to host wedding ceremonies.

3. Imagination: Sara’s Storybook Garden is a magical place where hobbits, fairies, and children’s favorite stories come alive. Funded partly by the Marathon Bar Association’s efforts, this garden will be a fantastic play space that unleashes children’s and adults’ imaginations alike.

4. Safety & Accessibility: The trails will be resurfaced with a smooth, permeable substrate to provide easy access for all ages and abilities. Lighting throughout the Gardens will be upgraded.

5. Visitor Services: Following the 2005 Master Plan developed by Mr. Monk and the newly formed nonprofit, Robert W. Monk Gardens, Inc., the main entrance to the Gardens will be moved to 4th Ave. The parking lot will be splattered with native plants, making it feel like a curated garden. A beautifully designed gatehouse that matches the aesthetics of the Phase II Visitor & Education Center will welcome visitors to collect entrance fees and essential data aiding in future strategic decisions. The parking lot will allow for large-scale events, like Blossom of Lights.

Phase II includes the building of the Visitor & Education Center (VEC), a place where people in the community can gather and learn. The center will also provide office space for staff, which will permanently plant us on the grounds of the Gardens.

Phase III will focus on creating even more educational space to serve our community by constructing an extension to the VEC to accommodate the preschool’s growing needs.

We see the upcoming completion of Phase I as the next natural step in the evolution of the Gardens. We’ve all built this wonderful “Happy Place” together, from soil to sky. We hope you are as excited as we are and to see you at the Gardens soon!