The Ira R. Herr Field will be getting a major facelift following the announcement of plans to install artificial turf ahead of the 2026 fall season.
Located behind the Bowers Center, Herr Field is the last natural grass field in the Landmark Conference, which includes Elizabethtown College and nine other Division III colleges. By replacing the natural grass with artificial turf, the College is hopeful that the new surface will be more sustainable and less costly to maintain.
“Because the natural grass surface limits field usage, installing turf will provide a more durable, versatile, and reliable playing surface,” Athletic Director Chris Morgan said.
Over the past few years, the college has attempted to fix drainage problems at Herr Field with mild success.
Prior to the installation of underground storm drainage in 2022, the field suffered from flooding following rain that would leave the area unusable sometimes for days, but the drains did not solve the entire issue.
As a natural grass surface with a mix of different types of grasses, Herr Field required sufficient watering to keep the grass alive and healthy.
“Different areas of the field needed to be watered at different levels to keep it fully nourished,” Director of Facilities Management Jerry Schaber said. “[The downside is] that different areas of the field needed more water [and] wouldn’t drain well.”
In addition to not requiring watering, the artificial turf will also save the College other maintenance related costs including chemical fertilizers. A more durable turf surface will also allow for expanded usage of Herr Field.
“The new surface will support multiple varsity and club sports as well as community events, ensuring Herr Field is a premier venue within the Landmark Conference and across NCAA Division III,” Morgan said. “It also expands field capacity from about 15 events annually to year-round availability.”
Herr Field has served as the College’s soccer field since its dedication in 1970. It is named after Ira R. Herr, the longtime coach and the College’s first athletic director from 1930-1961. During his tenure, Herr was the head coach for every athletic team, including seven seasons as the inaugural head coach for the men’s soccer team starting in 1937.
The field has also been the site of triumphant moments for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.
In 1989, Herr Field hosted the NCAA Division III Men’s National Championship, which saw Elizabethtown defeat UNC-Greensboro 2-0. The field also hosted the 1997 NCAA Division III Women’s Final Four. This remains the best finish ever for the women’s soccer team.
More recently, the women’s team played what would end up being the final game on the all-natural field on Nov. 1 in a 4-2 shoot-out loss in the playoff match up against Susquehanna University.
“This is a new phase for Etown Soccer,” women’s soccer head coach Amy Hough said of the transition to a turf field. “I look forward to leading and preparing our Jays to build on the recent successes of our program, both on the field and in the classroom.”
The artificial turf will be installed over the coming summer and will be completed before the fall 2026 soccer season begins.
“The transition of Herr Field changing from a natural grass playing surface to a synthetic turf surface is a new phase for Etown Soccer, and I believe that it will continue to help provide a fantastic athletic space for our student-athletes to train and compete,” men’s soccer head coach Evan Scheffey said. “Our men’s soccer program looks forward to the opportunity to work incredibly hard to carry on the immense pride and tradition of Etown Soccer on our new field next fall.”
