TAKING SHAPE: PDE Sets Sights on 2025 Groundbreaking for Freshwater Mussel Hatchery and Education Center

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Bartram’s Garden plan to break ground next year on a new freshwater mussel hatchery and ecosystems education center in southwest Philadelphia. The hatchery will produce up to 1 million freshwater mussels annually, and the ecosystems education center could attract 125,000 visitors per year.

As PDE and Bartram’s Garden continue to raise the funding needed to start construction on this $20 million turnkey venture, the nonprofits are finalizing the engineering plans for construction and laying the groundwork for the educational programming and services they’ll offer. Once operational, PDE scientists will use the world-class facility to produce freshwater mussels to get these native animals back into local waterways to filter water (up to 10 gallons per day per adult mussel) and improve habitat conditions.

The 20,000-square-foot facility will be located on previously developed land at Bartram’s Garden at 56th Street and Bartram’s Drive. The hatchery portion of the building will be 8,000 square feet and consist of dry and wet laboratories, nursery and hatchery space, and offices. The rest of the complex will include indoor and outdoor classrooms, a commercial kitchen, and a welcome center with exhibit space.

PDE is just $2 million short of its fundraising goal. If you’d like to donate or learn more about the hatchery, contact Elizabeth Horsey at ehorsey@delawareestuary.org for more information.

When finished, PDE’s freshwater mussel hatchery could produce up to 1 million mussels per year, and Bartram’s Garden’s adjacent education center could attract 125,000 visitors per year. Rendering courtesy of WRT.

HEALTHY HABITATS: H1.3/ H1.4

STRONG COMMUNITIES: C1.1/C1.3/ C1.4