The Conservancy marked the start of the project on May 7 with a ceremonial groundbreaking with key project funders, which included donors to the Conservancy’s Protect & Restore Campaign.
“We are thrilled to break ground on improvements to Climbers Run,” said Fritz Schroeder, the Conservancy’s president & CEO. “When completed, the improvements to the preserve and the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center will represent an important step forward as we continue building a community of well-trained volunteers, expanding youth and adult conservation education, and creating a preserve where people of all mobilities and abilities feel welcome.”
Universal Access Trail
The updates to the preserve will include a new universal access trail, named for Judith and Jay Gibble, that will wind from the trailhead through demonstration gardens featuring native plants and pollinator-friendly landscaping with benches to pause and observe.
A deck extending from the Russo Family Foundation Barn and Education Center will invite visitors to experience the landscape from a new perspective.
Other trails, like the Amos and Esta Funk Trail and Muller Woods Trail, will branch off and take visitors further into the preserve to explore and connect with nature.
Additional work will include a widened entrance drive with a school bus turnaround, improved parking, and key renovations to the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center to better support learning.
These upgrades include a modern HVAC system, improved interior layout, installation of bird-safe glass, and the creation of a new community science lab.
This project will work carefully to repair the spring-fed pond and wetlands that greet visitors upon arrival.
Several best management practices, including rain gardens, will be installed to capture and filter stormwater runoff from nearby agricultural fields as well as the preserve’s parking areas, roofs, and walkways.
These improvements will enhance the quality of water flowing into the pond and Climbers Run stream, which is critical to the health of these freshwater aquatic ecosystems – particularly the stream that supports native reproducing brook trout.
Enhancements throughout the preserve will transform Climbers Run into a catalyst for conservation education.
Along the accessible trail, visitors will encounter native plant gardens, interpretive signage, and restored meadows and streamside habitats ideal for birdwatching, both in person and online.
Outdoor Learning Spaces
Outdoor learning spaces, like the Thomas & Pamela Hall Bird Viewing Area, are designed to inspire current and future generations of environmental stewards.
Improvements to the Russo Barn will further support Climbers Run’s role as a hub for volunteers who conduct preserve stewardship, educational outreach, and community science projects across our preserves, amplifying the Conservancy’s ability to care for nature and connect people with the outdoors.
“Climbers Run has served the community well for more than a decade as the Conservancy’s engagement hub,” said Keith Williams, the Conservancy’s vice president of engagement and education. “Thousands of school kids have learned about and connected with nature here and hundreds of volunteers have been trained in this space.
“But the preserve has shortcomings that limit our ability to reach our community. These improvements will make Climbers Run even more accessible and will expand our capacity to engage more people in nature.”
Support For Project
Funding assistance for the site improvements to Climbers Run Nature Center has been provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation with a grant from the Environmental Stewardship ‘Growing Greener’ Fund.
Funding assistance was also provided by the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, and donors to the Protect & Restore Campaign.
Protect & Restore, started as a 50th Anniversary campaign, has grown into the most transformative chapter of the Conservancy’s 56-year history.
Over the past six years, the campaign has accelerated the Conservancy’s impact, allowing the organization to protect 4,500 acres of natural land, undertake 10 conservation projects totaling 300 acres, and expand trail networks including five universal access trails planned or already constructed.
One of the three key goals of the Protect & Restore Campaign is to update Climbers Run Nature Center, expanding the reach and impact of the Conservancy’s volunteer and education programs and deepening community engagement for years to come.
Project costs for Climbers Run are estimated at between $4.9 - $5.5 million.
The Conservancy will continue to raise funds for this project as part of the Protect & Restore Campaign through 2027.
A sculpture at the entrance of the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center is planned to celebrate the donors who have invested in the Protect & Restore Campaign and its impact across the landscape.
Services During Improvements
Climbers Run Nature Center is closed to the public during the construction and restoration process out of concern for visitor safety and because updates to the preserve include widening the driveway, which is the only access point for the property.
The Conservancy anticipates the preserve will reopen in late 2027.
In the meantime, the Conservancy encourages visitors to explore nearby nature preserves and to follow along for project updates online.
The Conservancy will continue to offer educational programming for school groups and adult learners at other locations including Kellys Run and Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam nature preserves.
The Lancaster Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that has protected over 11,000 acres of natural lands in Lancaster County and in York County along the Susquehanna River and manages over 50 nature preserves which provide opportunities to hike, hunt, fish, and explore the outdoors.
[Posted: May 11, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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