The Gazebo
Every neighborhood needs a front porch. Ours is the white gazebo at 6th & Norwich (3989 S. 6th St.), standing over the brick plaza at the heart of the Garden District Community Garden — the backdrop for concerts, movie nights, markets, and a hundred neighborhood moments in between.
Terry's Last Gift to the Garden District
The gazebo was the project of Alderman Terry Witkowski, the longtime 13th District alderman and GDNA chair who championed this garden from vacant land to neighborhood landmark. He worked on the gazebo for a couple of years — board members remember it as "his last gift to us." Simon Landscaping's crew helped make it real, grading the site and drilling the footings, the same way the Simons helped build so much of this garden.
An Award-Winning Front Porch
The gazebo is the centerpiece of the Garden Block Revitalization Project, which won a 2024 Mayor's Design Award from the City of Milwaukee. In the city's words, Terry Witkowski "coordinated an all-volunteer effort to revitalize the garden block. The multi-phase project included replanting the gardens, construction of a large gazebo, and the addition of multiple sculptures and artistic site features."
Around the plaza you'll find butterfly mounds and sculptures, Leopold benches, and — new in 2026 — butterfly benches built by Eagle Scout Jack Pierret and Troop 208 as his Eagle project.
What Happens at the Gazebo
- Movies in the Garden and Stories in the Garden on summer nights
- Ghostly Garden Walk — the gazebo anchors our Halloween trick-or-treat (this year: Sunday, October 25, 5:30–7 PM)
- Winter Wonderland — the gazebo is decorated for the display, and Santa & Mrs. Claus take photos here on tree-lighting night
- Play Music on the Porch Day & Volunteer Appreciation each August
- Farmers market days, plant sales, cookouts, and clean-ups all year
Come Sit a While
The gazebo and plaza are open whenever the garden is — bring a chair, meet a neighbor, stay awhile. Planning something at the garden? Start with our Contact page. Want a garden bed nearby? See Garden Beds →.