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Molly Hoffman

The Friends of South Park voted recently to recognize Molly Hoffman with a plaque and gift card for her contributions to the wildlife in South Park.

Molly Hoffman

In the summer before her freshman year of high school, Molly designed and planted a pollinator garden at the Girl Scout Cabin in South Park for which she earned the Girl Scout Silver award. As a senior at Bethel Park High School she decided to “Go for the Gold” and designed a vernal pool which is a seasonal body of water that creates a habitat for frogs and other amphibians. Working with the Allegheny County Park Rangers and the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, Molly completed the project in South Park last summer.

“It was really cool,” said Molly. “I didn’t know you could do this to help the amphibians.”

In addition, she constructed 3 bat boxes and 10 bee boxes that were placed in the new Paul Riis Meadow located behind the Cascades at Stone Manse. Due to urbanization the natural habitat of much of our wildlife has been eroded. The bat and bee boxes provide shelter as well as a place to keep their young safe from predators.
Carole Smith from the Parks Foundation said Molly logged 100 hours working on the project and needed 100 additional hours of help from the Rangers and other volunteers. She really enjoyed digging the pool and using hand tools she had never used before. Molly developed her love of nature and the environment on the many camping trips with her family.

Molly is currently attending Gettysburg College majoring in Environmental Studies and Public Policy and hopes to join the Peace Corps upon graduation. The Friends wanted to add their thanks to Molly and congratulate her on receiving the Girl Scouts Gold Award which is given to young women whose projects have “demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact and addressed a local challenge related to a national or global issue”.

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