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The Maryland Soccer Foundation and Maryland SoccerPlex are proud to partner with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Hunter Industries to celebrate “Smart Irrigation Month!” presented by The Irrigation Association. The Maryland SoccerPlex has always been committed to promoting efficient watering practices, technologically advanced irrigation products, and water conservation, and now, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Hunter, they will have an irrigation system to prove it.
To kick off the start of Irrigation Month, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Hunter Industries will provide the Maryland SoccerPlex with Mini Weather Stations/ Rain Sensors for each of the SoccerPlex’s five irrigation satellites. These Mini Weather Stations will automatically shut down the irrigation systems when the fields have reached adequate water amounts if rain begins during a watering cycle. They will also delay watering during high winds when water is blowing away from its target area. As a result, these Mini Weather Stations will help conserve water and make watering more efficient across the 35 acres of sports fields at the SoccerPlex. Every year, over 600,000 youth participate in over 4500 matches at the SoccerPlex, so efforts like this are essential to not only conserve water, but also keep the fields playable and in world class condition.
This water conserving technology from Hunter Industries is just a small part of Hunter’s overall “Commitment to Blue.” Hunter knows water conservation isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity. Since the company’s inception in 1981, Hunter has been an industry maverick, pushing the envelope to explore and develop new irrigation technologies. Today, Hunter is a global company with worldwide distributor network in 80 countries. They produce the complete gamut of water efficient irrigation products for residential and commercial projects as well as golf courses and sports fields. Visit http://committoblue.com/ for more information on Hunter Industries and their “Smart Water Solutions for Smart People.”
In keeping with its commitment to smart irrigation, Hunter Industries has partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation for the last 5 years to provide financial support and irrigation expertise to thousands of soccer organizations across the country. As the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the U.S., the Foundation has awarded $51 million to groups in all 50 states to support the growth of soccer in the U.S. The increasing popularity of soccer in the United States has highlighted the shortage of quality playing fields that will stand up to the wear and tear of constant use. Field Grants from the Foundation support the construction and improvement of soccer fields in the U.S. and help provide young people with safe places to play. Thanks to Hunter’s support, over half a million of these grants have been to support irrigation projects.
Please join the Maryland SoccerPlex, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Hunter Industries in supporting “Smart Irrigation Month.” Whether you add rain sensors to your residential system or re-examine your irrigation cycles, there are several ways that you can get involved. Visit www.smartirrigationmonth.com for ideas! Thank You for supporting the Maryland Soccer Foundation and its continuing environmental commitment!
For more information on other Maryland Soccer Foundation environmental initiatives, contact Sports Turf Manager Jerad Minnick at Jminnick@mdsoccerplex.org. 
