April 17, 2024 Hummer Turfgrass Installs Native Grass Field Drainage

Hummer Turfgrass Systems completed a seven-year drainage project, supporting a dozen of Maryland SoccerPlex’s native grass fields.

BOYDS, MD – The Maryland SoccerPlex, one of the largest and most popular youth sports facilities in the United States, recently completed a seven-year drainage project, supporting a dozen of its native grass fields. Hummer Turfgrass Systems has been working with the SoccerPlex since 2016, providing innovative and industry-leading solutions to deliver world-class fields that are functional and environmentally friendly.

The Maryland Soccer Foundation (MSF), in partnership with the Montgomery County Planning Board, built the $19M soccer complex in Germantown in 2001. This joint venture produced the largest premier recreational facility in the Washington Capitol Region which welcomed over 1.1 million visitors in 2023.

Since 2016, Hummer Turfgrass Systems has worked in partnership with the SoccerPlex on a variety of field construction, renovation and maintenance projects. Its most recent project, completed at the end of 2023, included installing new Hummer Sand Grid Drainage systems across 18 native soil grass fields that previously had no drainage solution. By utilizing industry-leading technology and cutting-edge solutions, Hummer has enhanced the usability, durability, and environmental impact of the fields. This investment will yield a positive economic and community impact for years to come.

“The SoccerPlex project is an excellent example of creative collaboration, industry expertise, and the power of sharing an aligned mission to deliver top-notch solutions that stand the test of time,” says Matt Wimer, President of Hummer Turfgrass Systems. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with the SoccerPlex on nearly every grass field in the park and I look forward to continued collaborations.”

The SoccerPlex utilizes the most cutting-edge technology available to maintain high quality on some of the most high-use natural grass surfaces in the world. It is the first sports complex in North America to adopt a fully data-based maintenance program, which uses robust data, GPS robots, and drone fly overs to provide plant activity and thermal imaging of all 160 acres that make up SoccerPlex.

“With finishing Fields 21 and 22, this multi-year improvement project ends with SoccerPlex reaching our goal of drainage in all 18 native soil fields in the park,” says Jerad Minnick, Director of Grounds at Maryland SoccerPlex. “We couldn’t do what we do and produce some of the best field conditions in the world with some of the most traffic of any natural grass facility without partners like Hummer.”

The SoccerPlex’s fields are ready to welcome the start of the spring sports season where nearly 1.1 million visitors will get to experience the many different offerings of the sports complex this year. Learn more about The Maryland SoccerPlex at www.mdsoccerplex.org and Hummer Turfgrass Systems at www.hummerturf.com.

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