Leader
ELLEN ROBERDS
Location
1048 South Bellevue Memphis, TN 38106
About the project
Play Where You Stay is a grassroots developmental soccer program providing skilled soccer training in underutilized lots and parks.
Soccer is the game of the world but is not widely played in many of our Memphis communities. Play Where You Stay introduces the sport to children in their neighborhoods. Play Where You Stay encourages children to move, laugh and learn.
Dedicated soccer space in the heart of the city is limited at best. Not having field space is an obstacle for the growth of the game. Partnering with South Memphis Alliance, Play Where You Stay will build its first dedicated field on South Bellevue.
The finished project built in phases will be a multipurpose play space for the community. It will contain a soccer field for Play Where You Stay skills training, competitive games, a basketball element in partnership with Project Backboard, and be home to neighborhood festivals.
The Steps
1. Design the multi-phase project
2. Build a field using as many businesses and community partners from South Memphis as possible
3. Continue current community outreach and piloting of Play Where You Stay
4. Play
5. Goooaaalllll
Why we‘re doing it
1048 South Bellevue is the site of the Old Dairy Plant. Reed's Dairy Plant stood active in the community from the 1930s to the 1980s. In addition to employing residents in the South Memphis community, Reeds was the home of the largest free-standing milk bottle in the world.
After the plant shuttered, the vacant building became a danger to the community. South Memphis Alliance bought the building and worked to remove it. Since then, the lot has hosted neighborhood events and housed a lit Christmas tree each holiday season.
This project is the next step in the story of this lot and community.
Find out more:
Play Where You Stay: https://playwhereyoustay.org/
South Memphis Alliance: http://www.smaweb.org/
Project Backboard: https://projectbackboard.org/