Located perfectly between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Wicomico County is an ideal destination when it comes to sporting venues, county amenities and more. Wicomico County is not just a beautiful Mid-Atlantic location – it’s also a convenient one. Wicomico County is less than a three-and-a-half-hour drive for 25 percent of the U.S. population and within two-and-a-half hours of Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
Convenience is key, which helps attract the USSSA Eastern World Series back to Wicomico County annually. The USSSA Eastern World Series, which recently completed its 11th summer in Wicomico County, is now the largest softball world series in one location. It isn’t the only national event that has chosen Wicomico County as its home base. Beginning in 2018, the facility will also become a new location for the Youth Baseball Nationals produced by Athletx.
Each December, Wicomico County welcomes high school basketball fans and families for the Governor’s Challenge high school basketball tournament. It’s now the largest holiday basketball tournament in the nation, and in 2017, 124 teams are slated to compete. Wicomico County has also been a longstanding host of the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Association’s Eastern Nationals, a 15-mat event that brings in more than 1,200 wrestlers who range in age from five years old to adults.
Although some events are on an extremely large scale for Wicomico County and its staff, they have help with their surrounding counties and communities. “Through the Mid-Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance (MAASA), which we founded with our neighbors in Ocean City and Worcester County, we can work together in partnership to accommodate events that might be too large for Wicomico County alone to handle,” said Kristen Goller, Tourism Manager for Wicomico County.
To help attract and retain events, Wicomico County has taken their facilities very seriously in renovating for a one-of-a-kind experience. In spring 2017, Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism started a $3 million expansion project at the 41-acre Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex, replacing an existing field’s infield with synthetic turf. New dugouts and bullpens were also constructed for this field, and batting cages will be added nearby. Three more diamonds – each with a full-size synthetic turf infield – are under construction as part of the expansion. By spring 2018, there will be eight playable baseball/softball fields at this location. New sidewalks and signage will also be in place. Built among trees, the facility is well-shaded.
“It’s important for us to continue to grow and improve our facilities so that we can offer tournament and event organizers exactly what they’re looking for to have successful events,” Goller said.
To learn more about Wicomico County, please visit their website for more information.
Rendering of Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex
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