Ecosystems Education Center & Freshwater Mussel Hatchery

Designed by WRT.

World-Class Science and Collaboration on the Tidal Schuylkill River

With the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE), a new watershed education and restoration complex at Bartram’s Garden will feature an ecosystems education center and the world’s first production-scale hatchery for freshwater mussels.

Each adult mussel can filter up to 20 gallons of water per day while creating a nutrient-rich riverbed to help prevent erosion and support healthy conditions for other plants and animals. (But no, these aren’t the kinds of mussels we eat!) Thanks to regulations, scientific research, and dedicated residents throughout the region, rivers like the Schuylkill and the Delaware are now healthy enough to support a range of plants and animals, including native mussels, but only large-scale intervention like PDE’s new 9,000-square-foot hatchery will fully restore the natural ecosystem. The hatchery’s freshwater mussels will be seeded, or placed, in the riverbed in local streams, wetlands, and waterways.

The adjacent 12,000-square-foot education center will provide hands-on, year-round opportunities for intergenerational learning, making, and sharing thanks to a teaching kitchen and flexible indoor and outdoor classroom spaces.

Supporters

We are grateful to the following institutions and individuals for their support of this project.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
Constellation
Exelon
Hilco Redevelopment Partners
The Klein-Paul Fund
The McLean Contributionship
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
NOAA Coastal Zone Management
PECO
William Penn Foundation
PENNVEST
Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program
U.S. Department of Environmental Protection

Updated January 2024

Naming & Sponsorship Opportunities

Fundraising is ongoing to ensure this project’s successful completion and sustainable programming as an inviting, free community asset. We look forward to discussing ways to showcase your sponsorship through naming opportunities and other benefits.

To learn more, contact Director of Development & Communications Caroline Winschel at cwinschel@bartramsgarden.org or 215 729 5281 x104.

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I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Birds

Boating & Fishing

Flowers, Plants & Trees

Gardening

History

Kids' Activities

Sankofa Community Farm

Southwest Philadelphia

Water Quality

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Youth Internships

I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Birds

Look up! More than 100 species of birds rely on this ecosystem.

Boating & Fishing

Enjoy all that the Tidal Schuylkill River has to offer.

Flowers, Plants & Trees

See what’s blooming, find a favorite tree, and stroll the gardens and natural lands.

Gardening

Bring the Garden home! Shop for plants or grow food, trees, and more.

History

Uncover the interconnected stories of this historic site.

Kids' Activities

Join us year-round to learn, make, share, and wonder.

Sankofa Community Farm

“Go back and get it!” Growing food sovereignty with an African Diaspora focus.

Southwest Philadelphia

Resources and opportunities especially for neighbors in Southwest Philly.

Water Quality

Find our latest data on the river’s bacteria levels and recent rainfall.

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Enjoy upcoming workshops, self-care, and events. Are you a Southwest artist? Let’s partner!

Youth Internships

Calling Southwest students: paid internships available with the river, the farm, and the trees.