Oakwell Estate, an historic, 35-acre estate in Villanova has been the center of a big debate between the Lower Merion School District and residents, students, and conservationists, writes Stacia Friedman for Hidden City

Lower Merion School District wants to clear the land for sports fields while community members and conservationists wish to preserve the estate and its forest of trees.

Tensions have been high as more people have been proclaiming their support of protecting the trees on the estate. It is not just about preserving history, but also protecting the environment, they emphasize.

In August, the school district held another meeting about the estate and the tone was much more optimistic about a better partnership between the community and the school district.

Jamie Joy Singer, a board member of the Lower Merion Historical Society said, “Speaking as a former sports mom whose kids went to Lower Merion schools, sports are important, but not at the risk of destroying a beautiful place of history and biodiversity. You can build fields anywhere, but there is only one Oakwell.”

The community is calling for the school district to find less expensive and less environmentally devastating ways to add more sports field on school grounds or in township parks, not Oakwell.

Read more about the fight to preserve Oakwell Estate at Hidden City.

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Take a tour of Oakwell Estate.