The Richmond Rose Garden debuted a brand-new gazebo Oct. 26 at the center of its bountiful blooms. Initially donated by Dana Weigle, the original structure had been a part of the rose garden for nearly 40 years; long-term wear and tear prompted the garden’s committee to seek replacement.
Rose Garden board member and volunteer Lisa Burkhardt said rot on the old gazebo’s pillars and roof leaks had incurred up to $10,000 in repairs, something they could not sustain with grants and donations, so they decided to proceed with a new version. The board wanted to keep the work local as the original was built by Butch Bowers Woodshop. Burkhardt said Fountain City’s Fountain Acres provided a quote, and builder Stoney Creek customized a structure to closely resemble the original.
The board approached sisters-in-law Terri Batsel and Monica Koechlein to help fund the $15,000 project. They accepted without hesitation.
Prior to this gift, Batsel donated the garden’s fence that runs along U.S. 40 in honor of her mother, Jane Cooney Koechlein, who died in 2003.
“The rose garden held a special place in my mother’s heart — it was a place of beauty and it offered her joy and serenity,” Batsel told WWN. She said this gift would ensure others have the same opportunity to experience the peace and beauty her mother held dear.
Batsel matched Koechlein’s gift of $7,500 through her Jane Koechlein and Connie Batsel Memorial Fund, which honors her mother and mother-in-law. Koechlein’s gift was funded through the Koechlein Family Fund created by the Wayne County Foundation.
“The Richmond Rose Garden is a special place and serves as a beautiful gateway and welcome to visitors entering Richmond and Wayne County from the east,” Koechlein told WWN. She said it’s a comfortable gathering space that makes “home” special.
Koechlein and Batsel have deep philanthropic roots in Richmond and Wayne County, with Koechlein serving as president for the Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation since 2012. Since its creation in 2000, the foundation has granted over $5 million to Wayne County nonprofits. Batsel supports local causes in addition to combating food insecurity in Ashe County, North Carolina, where she and her husband reside.
A version of this article appeared in the November 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
