HISTORIC SITE

Planting Fields Foundation

After six years of intentional foundation-building, Planting Fields stands at a pivotal moment in its evolution. With a clear understanding of identity and purpose, the Foundation is turning toward creating a campus that embodies life in balance—not as an abstract ideal, but as a tangible reality woven throughout site stewardship and visitor experiences.

The new strategic plan - Vision 2052: A Center for Learning and Life – looks ahead to the 100-year anniversary of Planting Fields Foundation (PFF), established by W.R. Coe in 1952. It also charts a detailed course for the next three years, focused on transforming the historic site into a living demonstration of coexistence between preservation and innovation, design and nature, individual reflection and community connection. Through thoughtful stewardship and programming, visitors will discover their own sense of balance.

AK Cultural Planning, together with the Strategic Planning Task Force, Board members, and senior staff collaborated on a year-long process that resulted in Planted Fields’ first accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. The three phases included:

Institutional Capacity and Market Assessment, including engagement of stakeholders and external experts. This resulted in a comprehensive understanding of opportunities and challenges for growth, with particular attention to the revenue model, future audiences, and the visitor experience.

Visioning & Strategy, which presented issues that emerged from the research and strategic implications for discussion at the Board Retreat. This phase also integrated the Director & CEO’s vision and recommendations for evolving brand, programming, and the financial model.

Implementation Plan, comprised of two documents: a narrative which features the vision, goals, objectives, programming framework and scale of fiscal growth that can be expected; and a supporting action plan that details staff assignments, budgets, timelines, and an approach to measuring impact.