Maryland SoccerPlex, Fine Earth Landscape earn Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Award

(Via Maryland SoccerPlex) – The Maryland SoccerPlex and Fine Earth Landscape have received an Award of Merit for Commercial/Retail Landscaping in the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful 28th Annual Beautification Competition.

The SoccerPlex and Fine Earth earned their second landscaping award in the competition since 2012, as one of three Award of Merit winners in the Commercial/Retail category. This year’s award was for the sports field entrances throughout the SoccerPlex.

“It is a pleasure working with the SoccerPlex to make the Plex one of the premium youth sports facilities in the entire country,” said Fine Earth Founder-Partner and Landscape Architect Bernie Mihm.

“Thank you to Fine Earth for the excellent and passionate work they provide the SoccerPlex, and to the KMCB Task Force for all you do for community,” said SoccerPlex Executive Director Trish Heffelfinger. “Congratulations to all of the award recipients.”

The Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Task Force hosted their annual awards ceremony on Oct. 15, presenting over 60 awards across the various categories, including: Cityscape, Community Non-Professional, Community Professional, Commercial/Retail, Public Institutional, Youth and Sustained Maintenance.

Three sites: Kenwood Pocket Park, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth and the Human Genome Sciences building were the 2014 Golden Trowel Winners, the competition’s top honor. Golden Trowel Winners must be three-time recipients of the distinguished Award of Excellence and have continued yearly maintenance for an additional five years.

Members of the Landscape Design Council of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs visited all 71 location nominees, judging entries on first impressions, design, selection, placement and condition of landscaping and maintenance.

The judges included Head Judge and Master Gardener Carol Carter, Co-Head Judge and Master Gardener Paula Knepper and horticultural experts and longtime members of the Council including Ellen Spencer, Bette Lewis, Dianne Gregg, Mary Ann Wren, Ellen Spencer, Mary Corley, Julie Perlman and newcomers, Carol Jarvis and Charmane Truesdell.