Ira R. Herr Field’s renovation into a turf-surface field has been completed nearly a month after its initial planned completion and well into the fall soccer season.
The conversion was first announced last fall amid continuing issues with the maintenance of the last remaining natural grass soccer field in the Landmark Conference. Drainage issues and cultivation of the grass necessitated constant care and limited use of the field used by Etown’s soccer program since 1970.
To avoid impacting the Fall 2026 soccer season, construction was slated to begin in June. However, changes in regulations concerning stormwater management put the project on hold until the end of the month when the requisite permits were finally obtained. The addition of rainy summer weather further hampered the timetable.
Upon the start of the current semester, earth and fill material were still being moved as crews worked to install retaining walls and electrical infrastructure. It was clear that the field would not be ready for the first home game of the men’s soccer season against Immaculata University on Sept. 4.
Standing in for the Ira R. Herr Field was the Jane Hoover Field at Elizabethtown Area High School.
“Honestly I didn’t mind playing on the high school field,” junior men’s soccer player Brady Williamson said. “The field quality was pretty good.”
The pending status of Herr Field also meant that the annual men’s soccer Marshmallow Game against Messiah University, due to be hosted at Etown this year, had to be rescheduled and played away at Messiah.
For the first four men’s games and first three women’s games of the season, the high school field stood in for the college’s as construction continued through September.
By the beginning of this month, the turf was finally rolled out and an inaugural practice run of the field was held on Oct. 5 by the men’s and women’s soccer teams and the men’s lacrosse team, who are usually restricted to using just Wolf Field.
“We’re excited to have a new turf field and to see the College’s continued investment in athletics,” men’s lacrosse coach Kyle McGuire said. “The new surface looks and feels great, and we’re looking forward to starting this next chapter and creating new memories.”
Two days after the practice, the women’s soccer team christened the new turf surface with a 1-0 win against Juniata College.
“I am incredibly grateful that our home field, Herr Field, is finally finished and ready to be played on during my senior year,” senior women’s soccer player Sophie Shadle said. “The new field is beautiful, and having the opportunity to play on it during my senior year is a special way to wrap up my college soccer career.”
With less than a week to go, the completion came just in time for the men’s and women’s homecoming games against the University of Scranton, which unlike the inaugural turf surface game, both ended in losses.
Thanks to the new turf surface, Etown can now offer expanded access to Herr Field. The constant maintenance on the natural grass resulted in only the soccer teams being permitted to use it.
“We are very happy to open Herr Field with its new artificial turf,” Bob Kerin, Vice President for Operations and Auxiliary Services, said. “Not only does this allow for expanded use year-round, but it also creates more opportunities for our NCAA athletics, club and intramural sports.”
Greater use of Herr Field will also help open up the availability of Wolf Field which is currently shared by the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, field hockey and intramural and club sports. Kerin also anticipates Etown being able to rent out Herr Field during the summer.
