Donald M Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo in Purchase, New York
The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at the World Headquarters of PepsiCo are named for the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, Donald Kendall. The sculpture collection was started in 1965, five years before the World Headquarter building opened. Today, the 160+ acre Purchase, New York campus, located one hour north of New York City, is free to visit during the spring, summer, and fall seasons and is a great spot to explore with children.
The 11 gardens (Birch Grove, Gold Garden, East Woodland Walk, Lake South Walk, West Woodland Garden, Lily Pond Garden, Japanese Iris Garden, Grass Garden, Fall Garden, Oak Grove, and Stream Garden) on the campus have been carefully formed and lovingly nurtured over the past four decades. The gardens span across the campus’s seven square blocks and form three courtyard gardens and one central fountain. There are 40 distinct sculptures open to the public, with six additional restricted sculptures that visitors can see from a distance.
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Eight Tips for Visiting the Kendall Sculpture Gardens:
- The gardens are free to visit and open to the public from 10am-4pm on weekends from April through mid November.
- There is plenty of free parking near the start of the stone path; visitors must check in with security and register their car’s license plate.
- The Visitor Center includes restrooms, vending machines for drinks, and an attendant who can answer questions and provide maps.
- The path is paved with a layer of loose pebbles; Wear closed toe shoes and bring the stroller for the toddler crew.
- Large sections of the paths are in the shade, but it’s always a good idea to bring a hat and wear sunscreen.
- There are plenty of benches that line the path and a couple of areas with tables and chairs; visitors are welcome to sit and enjoy the beautiful grounds, but sports playing and sunbathing are not allowed on the property.
- Make sure to check out the three lily ponds “les Ondines” and look for frogs, and check for fish in the larger pond.
- The entire path is about 1.5 miles and takes about 75 minutes to fully explore.
Looking for other sculpture gardens to explore? Check out our adventures at Storm King Art Center in New York (one hour northwest of PepsiCo) and Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers, New York. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X.
I’m always after some free activities so visiting the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens sounds like a great day trip from NYC. Thanks for sharing.
This place looks really cool. Thank you for sharing.
How fun to find a sculpture garden on the grounds of the PepsiCo headquarters. I love the fun variety in the sculptures. You need to be alert to find the ones blending in with the environment. Looks like a relaxing way to spend a few hours wandering.
Such nice greenery, definitely worth the visit! Lovely photos!
The sculpture garden at PepsiCo headquarters looks interesting. Sculptures are a great artistic way to bring out life in lifeless stones by human creation. It looks like a peaceful place to walk along the gardens and take time to admire. Thank you for sharing.