Spring Mill Road Preserve
Riverbend’s 30-acre preserve in Gladwyne, PA is an island of green surrounded by a bustling, densely populated suburban community not far from Philadelphia.
Riverbend's site is a multi-faceted gem located at the very end of Spring Mill Road. The preserve is named for the bend in the Schuylkill River, which defines the preserve's farthest border. Welcoming visitors near the entrance is a lovely tributary known as Saw Mill Run, a creek that entices young explorers and provides a refreshing respite during the hot summer months. Dotting Saw Mill Run is metamorphized schist consisting of gneiss stones and boulders. Steep topography throughout Riverbend adds to the site's beauty. Its diverse habitat includes meadows, woodland, and ponds inviting a wide range of nature study and exploration.
Open to the public daily from dawn to dusk, Riverbend welcomes visitors to walk the trails and explore the grounds. An essential function of the preserve is its use as an outdoor classroom for a wide range of on-site education programs.
Amenities on the Preserve
The Barn
The iconic 1923 Sears Roebuck Catalog barn building serves as the hub of Riverbend’s operations. Its public spaces host educational programs, nature camps, and other events. The barn houses a small animal collection and public restrooms.
The Snider Barn is available to rent for events and family parties. Click here to learn more.
Aquaponics Greenhouse
An addition to the Snider Barn in 2015, this educational lab supports nature-based STEM and sustainable agiculture programs.
Aquaponics is an agricultural method that combines aquaculture (raising fish in a controlled environment) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil) in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants, and the plants naturally filter the water for the fish. Another essential participant in the closed-loop system is bacteria that converts the ammonia from the fish waste into nitrates, a form of nitrogen that plants need to grow.
Charles Lieberman Outdoor Classroom
A popular destination for education programs and community events, the area features tiered seating and a covered outdoor learning area overlooking the Alec Williamson Bird Observation Area.
Nick & Dee Adams Pavilion
Riverbend’s 400-square-foot pavilion features scenic views and eco-friendly elements, including solar panels, a composting toilet, and a native plant garden.
The pavilion provides valuable program space where Riverbend campers and school children fill water bottles and have a sheltered area for activities, protected from the elements. The pavilion offers an enhanced visitor experience, including use for family and signature events.
Stone Story Circle
This area features large native boulders set into the hillside surrounding a large fire pit and views of the valley.
The Laurie Bachman Farmhouse
Built between the Revolutionary War and Civil War, this original tenant cottage features a renovated first and second floor dedicated to programmatic use. The third floor has also been renovated to offer storage or living quarters for future use.
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1950 Spring Mill Road
Gladwyne, PA 19035
610.527.5234
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