Date: June 29, 2005 Oyster Bay, NY: Planting Fields Receives a Prestigious Grant to Restore Its Historic Italian Garden By the summer of 2007 visitors to Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay will have the opportunity to once again enjoy its famed Italian Garden, as a result of a $250,000 grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The grant is for restoration of the Italian Garden adjacent to Coe Hall. The Italian Garden was completed circa 1919 by William Robertson Coe for his second wife, Mai Rogers Coe, who considered it her favorite part of the property and often referred to it as “the heart” of the estate. Unfortunately, in the ensuing years, it has fallen into disrepair and has been non-functional since the late 1970s. As a result of the successful partnership between New York State Parks Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Planting Fields Foundation, work has already begun on the centerpiece of the garden, the blue pool in the Italian style with two fountain sculptures in the form of maidens pouring water. Work is also underway to renovate and upgrade the historic tile and filtration system for the pool. When this project is completed, the unique clinker brick paths and walls surrounding the garden, as well as the historic iron gates will be restored, the phase for which the $250,000 EPF Historic Preservation grant was awarded. This work is expected to begin in 2006, with hopes for completion by mid-2007. Planting Fields has a rich history, and possesses some of Long Island’s greatest horticultural and architectural treasures. With 409 acres of rolling lawns and natural woodlands, and the 65-room Coe Hall Museum, Planting Fields is one of Long island’s true showplaces. The Planting Fields Foundation’s mission is to preserve and interpret Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park as the premier public garden and Gold Coast estate for today and tomorrow by educating, enriching and entertaining the visiting public. For information, please visit www.plantingfields.org