Address
1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Phone Number
(516) 922 8682
Date Visited
12/27/20
Website
Planting Fields Arboretum State Park
Description
The Planting Fields Arboretum & Coe Hall Mansion is located at 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. The main parking lot has ten handicapped spaces. There are paved roadways/walkways throughout, but there are also gravel paths throughout.One can enter the main greenhouse via a ramp. There is a grated walkway around the perimeter that can handle a wheelchair. There are benches throughout. Certain areas of the arboretum have gravel that may be too dense for wheelchair navigation.
Accessible restrooms with wheelchair accessible sinks and a baby changing station are located in a building directly across from the entrance to the main greenhouse. At present all other restrooms are closed.
- Attraction Type: park
Surface of lot: paved
Distance to venue: long walk to mansion and greenhouses
Transportation to venue offered: na
Terrain: flat
Places to rest: some benches throughout
Paths and walkways: some paved, some gravel
Doors: single door to main greenhouse
Number of floors: 1
Elevators: na
Ramps: in greenhouses
Steps and staircases: three steps in main greenhouse
Width of aisles: adequate in greenhouse
Places to sit: benches throughout the property
Location of restrooms: one freestanding building across from entrance to main greenhouse
Type of restroom: multi-stall, handicapped accessible, wheelchair-accessible sinks
Ease of entry and exit: good
Baby changing station: yes
Available food services: none at this time
Friendliness of staff: friendly
Notes: Due to Covid, only the main greenhouse and restrooms directly across from it are open
A very cold, but sunny day at the end of 2020 brought us to the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. We had not been here for quite some time and although a cold day in December might not seem like the best time to visit, it turned out to be quite lovely.
“The Planting Fields is a Gold Coast estate from the 1920s that survives today as a statement about art, architecture, landscape, wealth and luxury… It is one of only a few surviving estates on Long Island with its original acreage intact, as well as its original buildings and grandly furnished mansion, Coe Hall (which was designed as a 400 year-old English Manor house.”) (website) There is also an extensive collection of gardens and two greenhouses, which offer a variety of exhibitions throughout the year.
We parked in the paved, main lot, which has ten handicapped spaces. From here it was easy to get to the main greenhouse, which we had heard was open. Covid restrictions are being strictly adhered to at the greenhouse. We social distanced behind two families until we were allowed in. The gentleman at the door read us the safety restrictions. They are carefully monitoring the number of people allowed to be inside at one time (eight). It was beautiful – a wonderful display of poinsettias and other holiday blooms! We stopped to admire the blooms and take a few photos and then exited the other side, without even seeing any others. There is ramp access if one cannot manage the three steps. There is also a ramp all around the perimeter of the greenhouse, making it accessible for wheelchairs. I do not believe baby carriages are allowed inside.
In a small building directly across from the main entrance to the greenhouse are the restrooms. They are multi-stall, with a handicapped stall and wheelchair accessible sinks. There is also a baby-changing station. Other restrooms on the property are not open at this time.
We had no idea of where we wanted to be so we wandered a bit. We found our way to Coe Hall (which will reopen for tours in January, 2021.) It is quite a stately mansion. I look forward to touring it when Covid is a thing of the past! From here we walked past the visitor and conference center (also closed). We found several handicapped parking spaces near this building.
Continuing on the paved walkway, we took note of some of the unusual tree configurations, which seem to be much more noticeable in their bareness. There are also gravel paths throughout, if one wants to venture from the paved walkways. As we were working our way back to the parking lot, we noticed some folks coming from a place we hadn’t noticed. We decided to take a look. The initial area was brick, which then became gravel. As we looked ahead we saw a sign that said, “A – B” with the names of plants beginning with either A or B beneath. We walked on to find “C – D – E “ and the rest of the alphabet. We can’t wait to return to the Alphabet Garden, when things are in bloom.
Even in winter, if the day is nice, consider a visit!
As always, Destination:Accessible advises you to visit a venue’s website, http://www.plantingfields.org">www.plantingfields.org, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”
Right now, you can have a virtual tour or some aspects of The Planting Fields on their website.
Contact us