Montgomery County approves $400,000 open‑space grant to help Riverbend buy adjacent 4.2‑acre parcel

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize a $400,000 open‑space grant to Riverbend Environmental Education Center to help the nonprofit acquire an adjacent 4.2‑acre parcel on Sawmill Run in Lower Merion Township.

Bill Hartman told commissioners the county Open Space Board unanimously recommended the award at its February 26 meeting to assist Riverbend’s purchase of the privately owned parcel. The parcel contains about 175 linear feet of Sawmill Run that Riverbend uses for environmental education and was appraised at $1.2 million, Hartman said. Riverbend is seeking roughly $1.4 million to buy and begin ecological restoration of the site.

Erin Riley, executive director of Riverbend Environmental Education Center, told the commissioners, “Riverbend has been in Lower Merion 50 Years, and, we serve 10 to 12,000 children a year.” She said the parcel’s stream segment is core to the organization’s programming and that acquiring it would allow ecological restoration and preserve outdoor teaching space.

The grant award was presented as part of a funding package that includes Riverbend’s fundraising, an application to the Pennsylvania DCNR C2P2 grant program, and other private and public sources. Hartman said the Open Space Board conditioned its recommendation on Riverbend receiving DCNR funding or similar support from other sources.

Commissioner Winder moved approval of the grant and Commissioner De Bello seconded. The board voted in favor; the resolution passed.

Why it matters: Riverbend is the county’s largest environmental‑education provider for schools; county staff noted nearly 12,000 student visits in 2024, about 70% from low‑income schools. Losing access to the stream segment would reduce Riverbend’s ability to run hands‑on outdoor STEM education that county and township officials described as valuable to student learning and to local conservation goals.

Next steps: Riverbend will continue fundraising and await the county’s grant execution pending DCNR or other funding sources. County staff and the township said they will update the commissioners as the acquisition and restoration plans proceed.