For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 27, 1999
Local soccer players scored a victory today as County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Council President Isiah Leggett signed the SoccerPlex lease agreement shortly after the Council gave final approval to the document, which gives the go-ahead for construction of a 24-field complex and indoor soccer and recreational arena in the South Germantown Recreational Park.
Located at Route 118 and Schaeffer Road, the complex, in its first phase, will contain 17 fields -- including one championship field, with seating for as many as 3,200 spectators - and an indoor arena. The remaining fields will be constructed in two phases over the next three to five years.
The SoccerPlex proposal was the impetus for the County to begin development of South Germantown Recreational Park., which will indluce an adventure playground, softball and baseball fields, and large picnic areas.
A "central park" will be located amidst the soccer fields which will feature a miniature golf course, splash park, archery range, playground, nature center, a model boat lake and other recreational activities and amenities. An indoor tennis facility will also be located within the park.
At the signing ceremony, Duncan said, "Thousands of soccer players - of all ages - throughout the county have been waiting for this moment. The SoccerPlex is a tribute to the strength of a partnership between the County, Park and Planning Commission, and the State on one hand and the Maryland Soccer Foundation and some very dedicated individuals and corporate sponsors.
"This project will benefit thousands of youth and adult soccer players for years to come, as well as meeting a variety of recreational needs for thousands of other children and adults," said Duncan.
Among those attending the ceremony were Councilmembers Steve Silverman and Nancy Dacek, Maureen Hendricks, soccer mom and wife of Discovery Communications president and chief executive officer John Hndricks, who has pledged more than$1 million toward the project; Bill Hussmann, Planning Board chairman; Ken Solomon, president of the Maryland Soccer Foundation.,
The agreement approved by the Council and signed by the Executive and Council president provides for a lease between the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission and the Maryland Soccer Foundation. The lease is for 20 years, with two optional 10-year extensions.
Funding for the $19.8 million SoccerPlex will come from the County, State and private sources. The Maryland Soccer Foundation has pledged to raise $11 million, with the County and State contributing $8.8.
Construction of the first phase is expected to begin this week, with a formal groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for September 18. Plans call for the first fields to be completed by the fall of 2000.
Another Germantown Project Moves Forward
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan also announced today that the County has finalized an agreement to purchase a portion of the Manny H. Miller property in Germantown as part of the Town Center project.
The 9.3-acre site, purchased for $2.1, will include the new Germantown Library, and the cultural arts center, considered integral components of the Town Center.
Commenting on the importance of a new library to the community, Department of Public Libraries Director Harriet Henderson said, "The existing library is already heavily used and with such a growing population, overall, and a high concentration of children, one can easily see the need for a new library."
The plan for design of a new library is scheduled to be included in the capital projects budget presented by the County Executive in January 2000.
The Miller tract is located between Middlebrook Road and Crystal Rock Drive.
Release ID: 99-268
Media Contact: David Weaver 240-777-6530