APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The city of Appleton will hold a ribbon cutting for a new monument honoring sexual assault survivors Saturday.
For many, this monument — located at the Ellen Kort Peace Park just off the Fox River — hits close to home.
Scattered throughout the blue and white structure is symbolism showing support for victims of sexual assault.
“People can come and just sit, know they’re not alone, have that time,” said Chelsea Bongert, a monument planner.
As Bongert explains, every piece of the design — from the pillars to the mosaic artwork…
“Every single tile that you see, all around it is members of the community, and a lot of them are survivors themselves,” Bongert said.
… to the fire rose and posted QR code…
“We have resources in the community,” Bongert said.
… was carefully chosen to help comfort those affected by sexual assault.
The monument was designed as a place for people to visit and reflect. As you sit down on any one of the three benches, you get a different perspective from each.
“Maybe you have not personally experienced it, or you don’t know somebody who has personally experienced sexual assault. But you can still come here and go, ‘Wow, this really happens in the community and this really matters,” Bongert said.
Bongert is one of the many people who helped make this monument a reality.
“There’s got to be something that those who I don’t speak to or even those that I do, where they can go afterwards or know that they matter and know that their story is part of this community,” Bongert explained.
She’s a survivor herself who frequently speaks in the community in an effort to raise awareness. In 2019, Bongert brought an early draft of the monument to the city council. They approved the project one year later.
“The first place I went as a teacher was Renaissance School of the Arts [located in Appleton West High School],” Bongert said. “The students there formed groups and research and we culminated all the ideas.”
Multiple groups, including Miron and Hoffman Construction, contributed to the structure that now stands in Ellen Kort Peace Park.
“Having a space like that and having that peace, and knowing you’re not alone and a place where you can have that hope and that healing in, is just so important,” Bongert said.
Saturday’s ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 2 p.m.
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