# Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Executive Director Paul Cappiello to Retire After 24 Years

> Paul Cappiello will retire in early 2027 after 24 years leading Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, as the board searches for his successor.

- Published: 2026-10-14T21:01:42+00:00
- Section: Leadership
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-14/yew-dell-cappiello-retirement
- Source: [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/yew-dell-botanical-gardens-executive-202935691.html)

## Key takeaways

- Paul Cappiello is retiring after 24 years as executive director of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Crestwood.
- The board is conducting a search for Cappiello's successor, with transition details to be announced in the coming months.
- Cappiello has written the Greenspace column for The Courier Journal for 14 years and authored 600 publications.

Paul Cappiello, executive director of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, is retiring after 24 years leading the Crestwood nonprofit. He will step down in early 2027, and the board is searching for his successor, according to [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/yew-dell-botanical-gardens-executive-202935691.html).

## Cappiello's 24 Years at Yew Dell

A New York native, Cappiello has led Yew Dell for 24 years, a period in which the organization grew into what the release called "one of the region's most distinctive botanical gardens and a nationally recognized destination for horticulture, education and community engagement." The 60-acre property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, began as the private estate of plant enthusiasts Theodore and Martha Lee Klein and is now a public garden open year-round.

Robert Nunnelley, board president for Yew Dell, said in the release that Cappiello "has become inextricably linked with Yew Dell" and that his leadership "has had a profound impact in shaping this remarkable place." Nunnelley added that Cappiello "leaves Yew Dell with an extraordinary mark on its legacy" and has situated the organization "with tremendous momentum to move its' mission forward."

In recent years the property underwent a $5 million project to improve garden water features, add educational elements, improve ADA accessibility and enhance views around its miniature stone fortress, The Courier Journal previously reported. Cappiello told the publication that the castle garden had been "brought up to the same world class level as the rest of the property."

Cappiello has authored the "Greenspace" column for the Sunday edition of The Courier Journal for the past 14 years, after pitching the idea as part of Yew Dell's education outreach. The column launched in 2012. Across his career he has authored 600 publications, including work in popular garden publications and academic journals.

"A uniquely dedicated board, visionary donors, some of the most talented staff on the planet, committed volunteers, and a whole community of supporters have come together over the last 24 years to create pure magic," Cappiello said in the release. "You have all made my leadership the experience of a lifetime."

Cappiello said he will continue to advocate for Yew Dell and to write and teach about gardening. "I feel like we've spent the last 24 years building this amazing place and I'm excited to see what this incredibly talented group of people with a new leader can now do," he said.

## What Comes Next for Yew Dell

The board is conducting a search for Cappiello's successor, and further details about Yew Dell's leadership transition and future plans will be announced in the coming months, according to the release. Cappiello will retire in early 2027. More information about the garden is available at [yewdellgardens.org](https://yewdellgardens.org).

## Companies in this story

- Yew Dell Botanical Gardens · website: https://yewdellgardens.org

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