River Renaissance: Connecting to the Schuylkill in new ways

December 10, 2014
John Bartram

There has been an important reawakening for many Bartram’s Garden visitors in recent years. The Garden has again become a place where people of all ages could connect with one of Philadelphia’s greatest natural resources, the Schuylkill River.

Our boat dock will be buzzing with activity this spring, summer, and fall with free canoe and kayak rides, chartered cruises with Patriot Harbor Lines, a floating ice cream parlor festooned with a brass band, and the colorful Tidal Schuylkill Boat parade. The river also served an outdoor classroom for children in our new after-school program and summer camp. Plans are in the works to expand our public access hours and develop even more fun, new programs focused on our branch of Philly’s “hidden river” in 2015.

Following a major restoration and replanting recently, the tidal wetlands located on the southern end of Bartram’s Garden is now flourishing with native species and providing an expanded habitat for wildlife. The only one of its kind on the Lower Schuylkill, the wetlands serve several important functions and improve the health of our ecosystem by protecting water quality, storing floodwaters, and providing breeding grounds for a variety of species. Look for green herons, redwing blackbirds, sandpipers, kingfisher, and other migratory birds standing among the cattails the next time you visit!


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

Stroll the Schuylkill River Trail or join us for biking!

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.