Main Entrance Drive Restoration Ribbon Cutting

Main Entrance Drive Ribbon Cutting
Friday, October 25, 2024
11am – 12:30pm
FREE

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay, NY

Please RSVP By October 23, 2024

Join Planting Fields Foundation as we celebrate the completion of phase one and two of the Main Entrance Drive Restoration with a ribbon cutting on Friday, October 25! Check in begins at 11am, followed by welcoming remarks, the cutting of the ribbon, and refreshments.

11am Check In
11:15am Welcome Remarks
11:30am Ribbon Cutting
Reception to Follow

With Special Guests
Governor Kathy Hochul (invited)
Congressman Tom Suozzi
Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz
Duncan C. Sahner, Chairman, Planting Fields Foundation
Gina J. Wouters, Ph.D, President & CEO, Planting Fields Foundation
Daniel Mackay, Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation
Paul Steely White, Executive Director, Parks & Trails New York
George Gorman, Regional Director, Long Island State Parks
Vincent Simeone, Arboretum Director, Planting Fields
Alex Lampe & Benji Wiedemann, Founders, Wiedemann Lampe

About the Main Entrance Drive Restoration
Over the last two years, we planted 101 native white oak trees, constructed a consolidated ADA accessible pathway system, and installed brand-new multi-lingual wayfinding and interpretive signs throughout the 409-acres of Planting Fields. The purpose of this project is to ensure that Planting Fields remains inclusive, welcoming, and easy to navigate for all visitors, while also restoring the original monumentality, yet distinctive, pastoral design as well as elevate their understanding and experience of this vibrant historic site. This project also reimagines key Olmsted design principles at Planting Fields including a unified composition, orchestration of use and movement, comprehensive approach, and sustainable design.

We are proud to report that this ribbon cutting signifies the completion of phase two of this three-phase undertaking and would be honored to have you join us to celebrate!

Home to iconic horticultural collections, revered architectural marvels, rare artwork, and a magnificent 409-acre Olmsted Brothers-designed landscape, Planting Fields Arboretum Historic State Park has long been a treasured destination both domestically and internationally. While we are proud of the visitation we receive each year – 250,000 people – we found that there was room for improvement, restoration, and a dire need for change to improve the visitor experience.

Designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, Planting Fields is one of the largest extant residential projects ever realized by the Olmsted Firm, creating a unique opportunity to position our site as a destination. Returning to the original intent of the 409-acre site, originally created as an integrated composition of the built and natural world, this project merges careful historic preservation with sustainable design strategies.

About Planting Fields Foundation
Planting Fields Foundation strives to preserve and make relevant to all audiences the heritage of Planting Fields, an early 20th century 409-acre estate, designed as an integrated composition of the built and natural world.

For questions, please contact Lilly McGurk, Stewardship Director at lmcgurk@plantingfields.org or (519) 922-8676