Frog Hollow Environmental Education Center was created by Elsie Krammes as a Memorial Park to her father Samuel B. Riland. Management of Frog Hollow was entrusted to the South Schuylkill Garden Club. Most recently in 2019 it was entrusted to St. John’s Reformed Church located in nearby Friedensburg.

After several years, the church began to feel the burden of caring for the property and thought that they were not the best people to manage Frog Hollow. They felt that it should be available to the public for use and enjoyment. 

Word got out and caught the ear of Bob Evanchalk of Schuylkill County Parks and Recreation. He had the idea to somehow preserve Frog Hollow for public use and enjoyment and spoke with Drew Kline, supervisor of the Schuylkill County Parks, about the opportunity.

A meeting was set up with members of St. John’s Reformed Church Council, which included Brad Elison, Bob Evanchalk, and Schuylkill County Conservancy members Sue Reier and “Porcupine Pat” McKinney. Sue and Pat felt strongly that there was a way that the Schuylkill County Conservancy could help with Frog Hollow. They brought the idea back to the Schuylkill County Conservancy Board. It became to the group clear there were number of people who wanted Frog Hollow Educational Center to remain accessible to the public, but those involved groups where not sure how to do so. Drew Kline and representatives of the Schuylkill County Conservancy approached the Schuylkill County Commissioners who agreed on the concept that the Schuylkill County Conservancy would apply for a grant to purchase Frog Hollow and then turn the property over to the Schuylkill County as a second county park. There was a stipulation the site would remain a passive recreational area. The commissioners at that time were George Halcovage, Gary Hess and Barron “Boots” Heatherington.

With the approval of the Commissioners, the plan was launched to apply for a DCNR grant to purchase the property and turn it over to the county for use as a second county park. Brad Elison, a council member of the church, was very helpful with the negotiations. The members of St. John’s Reformed Church were “on board” with the idea of preserving Frog Hollow as a community park. With the help of Drew Kline a grant was written for funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA--DCNR).

About two years later, PA--DCNR approved the grant to purchase Frog Hollow from St. John’s and Frog Hollow became Schuylkill County’s second county park!

Drew Kline and Bob Evanchalk requested Schuylkill County Conservancy “take the lead” to move forward by developing a comprehensive approach to assess the new park’s needs moving forward.

The Schuylkill County Conservancy board appointed Jane Kruse to lead a committee for this purpose. Jane is an active member of the Schuylkill County Conservancy and was involved with Frog Hollow when the South Schuylkill Garden Club managed the area. From these efforts, members of the community were brought together to form the “Friends of Frog Hollow” committee.

The committee, with the cooperation from the community, Schuylkill County Government and the Schuylkill County Conservancy, achieved these initial improvements to Frog Hollow:

1. erected new entrance signage including a map and informational kiosks throughout the park,

2. replaced the pavilion floor with new concrete which was completed as an Eagle Scout project,

3. scheduled and led a youth summer day camp,

4. started the task of controlling invasive plants and restoration of native plants,

5. conducted “clean-ups”, and

6. performed the removal of unsafe demolished homestead debris, made possible through funding received by the Friends of Schuylkill County Parks and Recreation.

The Schuylkill County Conservancy wants to thank the following individuals and groups for their efforts in making Frog Hollow Nature Area a reality:

• George Halcovage, Gary Hess, Barron”Boots” Hetherington, and Lawrence Padora, Schuylkill County Commissioners

• Drew Kline, Schuylkill County Parks and Recreation Supervisor

• Bob Evanchalk, for the Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation

• Brad Elison and the members of St. John’s Reformed Church for insuring the property remained public

• Sue Reier and “Porcupine Pat” McKinney for promoting the project and the confidence that the Schuylkill County Conservancy could do this.

• Jane Kruse for taking the “bull by the horns” and organizing a working committee

• Members of the “Friends of Frog Hollow” committee

• PA--DCNR for the grant to purchase the property

• Boy Scout Troop 651 for help in maintaining the property