Lease for Memphis Inner City Rugby field, funded with federal money, could be OKed soon

The final step for Memphis Inner City Rugby to be able to begin construction on the blighted Vance Middle School field has now come before the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board.

MICR received an American Rescue Plan Act grant from Shelby County Government in December 2023 to build up its field on Vance Ave as well as restroom facilities, concessions and storage.

Dr. Marie Feagins, at a recent meeting, said the contract will be amended before the next board meeting. One amendment, Feagins said, is to change the cost from $5 for a five-year lease to $1 for the same period.

MICR Executive Director Shane Young said he is excited for the lease approval finally making it to the agenda. It has almost been a year since the funds were initially allocated to the organization. MICR has used the field on the site of what was Vance Middle School since 2017.

Vance Middle School was demolished in 2019.

Since the program's inception, MICR has served around 3,000 athletes with over 100 going on to collegiate programs across the country. Young said previously there are currently 70 former MICR athletes in collegiate rugby programs.

What is up for approval by the MSCS board is a five-year lease for Shelby County Government for the field at the cost of $1. MICR has not been able to receive the $1.1 million from Shelby County Government because the lease has not been approved by the school board.

According to Young, the lease was signed in June.

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The battle for the building of the field started at the Shelby County Commission, where the agenda item was deferred numerous times. MICR brought its athletes ― mostly high school aged ― to multiple meetings pushing for the approval. Commissioners have made a habit of being hyper-critical of ARPA funding and where the one-time federal funds have been allocated to.

In order for MICR to receive the funds from the county, a lease between MSCS and Shelby County had to be established.

Young said he is not concerned with the lease being so short, and if MSCS would want to land back they would hope to still be able to use it. Young said the field upgrades will bring value to the area and the land.

According to meeting documents, the county will be responsible for maintaining the land to the tune of $18,000. Young said MICR is prepared to take on the maintenance of the field. The field and the building projects will only take up 3-3.5 acres on the 12-acre plot, Young said.

MICR has received a direct investment in the Vance development from the Hyde Family Foundation. The $1.1 million from the foundation will supplement the money from the county. MICR also received a sustainability grant from the Assisi Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Lease for Memphis ruby field could be approved by MSCS next week