Planting Fields Foundation Receives $1 Million from NYS Budget to Support Preservation and Future of the Historic Landscape at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Planting Fields Foundation today announced a $1 million investment to preserve, enhance, and expand access to one of the state’s most significant historic landscapes at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park – including the highly anticipated Oudolf Garden. Opening in October 2026 and conceived by internationally renowned Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf, the new garden represents the most significant evolution of the estate’s landscape since its original design by the Olmsted Brothers more than a century ago.
Included in the FY27 New York State Budget through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the investment will support the restoration and enhancement of the historic park’s gardens. The funding will help safeguard a nationally significant cultural landscape while expanding opportunities for education, recreation, encounters with nature, and cultural tourism for its more than 250,000 annual visitors.
New York State Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul, this $1 million investment will support the ongoing restoration and stewardship of Planting Fields Arboretum, ensuring this extraordinary site remains a place where visitors can connect with nature, history, and culture. We look forward to working with Planting Fields Foundation to advance exciting new projects like the Oudolf Garden, further enriching the visitor experience.”
Planting Fields Foundation President and CEO Gina Wouters, Ph.D. said, “Planting Fields is one of New York State’s most extraordinary public landscapes, where history, horticulture, and community come together on a scale that is both rare and irreplaceable. This investment recognizes the importance of preserving a site of national significance while ensuring it continues to evolve as a living, accessible landscape for the public. The future Oudolf Garden represents the next chapter in that evolution, bringing the acclaimed designer to Long Island and deepening the way visitors experience this remarkable place across seasons.”
Bringing Piet Oudolf’s vision to life is a collaborative effort between Planting Fields Foundation staff, volunteers, consultants, and New York State Parks staff. The garden is set to open to the public on October 17. The public is invited to be a part of the Oudolf Garden by sponsoring a plant, tree, bench, and more. Learn more at plantingfields.org.
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park is the former Gold Coast estate of the W.R. Coe family. This National Register property has over 400 acres of rolling lawns, gardens, woodlands, and nature walks. The Camellia Greenhouse displays the largest collection of camellias in the northeast, and the Main Greenhouse has extensive collections of hibiscus, orchids, succulents, and seasonal displays. The Main House is the 65-room Tudor Revival-styled historic house museum of the Coe family and is open for guided tours from April to December.
About Planting Fields Foundation
Through a balanced approach to preserving and creating, the Foundation stewards the built and natural environment of Planting Fields as a public center of learning and life. Planting Fields is a dynamic and vibrant site that features numerous historic structures, Olmsted Brothers-designed landscapes, and world class art and horticultural collections. Established in 1952 by W.R. Coe as a 501(c)(3), Planting Fields Foundation works in partnership with New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation to steward Planting Fields. As a former Gold Coast estate, it is preserved today as a celebration of art, architecture, landscape, and the people who resided on its land. Annual festivals and seasonal 5Ks, as well as year-round programs, lectures, symposia, exhibitions, concerts, performances, and family events take place on the property. Learn more at plantingfields.org.
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