Enriching a community through recreational programming options

Fernbrook Fields Athletic Complex

In Minnesota, wet weather and temperature extremes can make maintaining fields challenging throughout sport seasons. As part of its comprehensive planning process, the City of Maple Grove decided to transform an unused parcel into a regional tournament-quality venue for soccer, football, and lacrosse.

Our team worked closely with City staff and others to design the Fernbrook Fields Athletic Field Complex: one of the largest facilities of its kind in the state. The 19-acre complex features four full-size, synthetic turf fields illuminated with energy-efficient LED lighting. The underdrain system and engineered subgrade keeps the fields dry during wet weather, providing stormwater storage and reducing peak flow to stormwater ponds and adjacent wetlands. Special technology incorporated into the field surface reduces temperatures by as much as 25 degrees, keeping players cooler during the summer months.

Fernbrook Fields provides much more than tournament-quality fields and an extended play season. Associated infrastructure improvements enhanced access to an elementary school, improving safety and traffic. The complex includes practice and warm-up areas, a park, restrooms, concessions, and facilities for community events.