Congresswoman Scanlon Announces $925,000 in Federal Funding for Ecosystems Education Center and Mussel Hatchery at Bartram’s Garden
Philadelphia, PA,
June 6, 2022
Philadelphia, PA – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined officials and community members to celebrate $925,000 in Community Project Funding she recently secured to support the construction of a new ecosystems education center and freshwater mussel hatchery at Bartram’s Garden in Southwest Philly. The project is a joint venture led by Bartram’s Garden and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. It is one of 10 Community Project Funding awards Scanlon delivered for her district through the Fiscal Year 2022 federal government funding package passed by Congress in March.
With more than $12 million already committed towards its design and construction, the $925,000 in federal funding secured by Rep. Scanlon will allow Bartram’s Garden and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to advance the construction of the new watershed education and restoration complex, which will feature an ecosystems education center and the world’s first hatchery focused on producing large numbers of native freshwater mussels to promote cleaner water, using both common and rare species.
“Investing in community recreation and environmental remediation is essential to addressing the long-term economic and health impacts of industrialization and environmental injustice on our communities,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Bartram’s Garden has a long history of fostering equitable relationships among people and nature through recreational and educational opportunities like environmental restoration and education, boating, fishing, and birdwatching, and is an invaluable gift to our region. I am so happy to be able to bring taxpayer dollars back to this local treasure and to be invested in such a meaningful way.”
“We’re honored by Congresswoman Scanlon’s ongoing support for Bartram’s Garden and Southwest Philadelphia, especially this extraordinary investment in hands-on education for all our youth and neighbors,” said Maitreyi Roy, Executive Director, Bartram’s Garden. “The new ecosystems education center will transform our ability to offer year-round inspiration for the thousands of students who visit the Garden each year, in addition to the hatchery’s extraordinary impact on our watershed. Connecting our local students with the daily work of scientific research and watershed health will allow them to deepen their own connection to the river and its future.”
"The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is grateful for Congresswoman Scanlon's support of the Ecosystems Education Center and Freshwater Mussel Hatchery at Bartram's Garden,” said Kathy Klein, Executive Director, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. “The shared complex will be transformative for both of our organizations. The propagation of mussels in the hatchery will help us to realize valuable ecosystem services including improvements to water quality and ecological conditions. In addition, we are excited to partner with Bartram's Garden to develop and implement hands-on programming that will engage the local community and beyond in environmental education and stewardship."
The Fiscal Year 2022 spending bill provides $1.5 trillion in discretionary resources, including nearly $8.5 million in Community Project Funding secured by Scanlon for organizations in PA-05. Additional information on the Community Project Funding awards in Scanlon’s district is available here.
Photos from the riverfront event are available here for media use.
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