Stoneleigh garden expands to 52 acres after surviving eminent-domain threat

A historic Pennsylvania landscape, once divided by a fence and property line for over a century, is being reunited. Stoneleigh, a natural garden and former private estate, is expanding from 42 to 52 acres through the acquisition of most of the adjoining Oakwell property.

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The addition reconnects landscapes that were split nearly 100 years ago, providing a larger space for gardens, education and public enjoyment.

This expansion reconnects landscapes that were split nearly 100 years ago, creating a larger, unified space for gardens, education, and public enjoyment, according to the Natural Lands website. The 10-acre addition comprises the majority of the 13-acre Oakwell property, which was carved away from the original Stoneleigh estate in the 1920s and 1930s. Visitors can already glimpse mature trees, historic architecture, and remnants of previous garden designs that extended across the former property line.

The journey to reunification was not straightforward. The Lower Merion School District purchased the 13-acre Oakwell property in 2018 with plans for athletic fields related to a nearby middle school. However, public concern over the potential loss of the property's historic landscape and buildings led the district to explore other options.

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The two properties are remarkably alike, yet they have been parted for generations.

After five years of discussions with Natural Lands, a compromise was reached. Natural Lands will acquire 10 acres to add to Stoneleigh, while the remaining three acres, including Oakwell Hall, will be transferred to the Wyncote Foundation for restoration and preservation.

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The reunification will recapture a sense of the original scale of the landscape, while preserving the different histories that accrued on either side of the fence.

The newly acquired acreage will not be immediately open to visitors. Several years of planning and restoration are needed before it becomes part of Stoneleigh’s public experience. A new master plan will guide the integration of the two properties into a unified landscape, aiming to enhance educational programming, visitor amenities, and new garden features while respecting the area's history. The expansion also supports Stoneleigh’s mission to highlight the beauty and significance of the natural world and promote the cultivation of native plants.

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Plans were later changed because of public concern about the possible loss of the property's historic landscape and buildings.