tism. We have always agreed that no improve-
ments would be made to the property with-
out money in hand. So money and volunteer
time drive our timetable.

RUGBY: Will Richmond continue to use
Dorey Park?

KENNEDY: Most definitely. Our primary
pitch, Dorey Park, is spectacular with 50-foot
goal posts. The field is irrigated, watered and
mowed by the parks department at no cost to
our club. With our limited resources, we
would be foolish to give up our relationship
with Dorey Park and Henrico County.

Our property allows us to build wealth
for the rugby club and gives us the backup
fields we sorely need.

RUGBY: What is the current value of your
property?

KENNEDY: I couldn't fathom a guess on its
market value now but it was a wise invest-
ment, even if it hasn't been fully developed
at this time. Its true value is that the Rich-
mond rugby community has an identifiable
location to call home once the athletic
grounds are developed for competition in the
near future.

RUGBY: Is your model for acquiring prop-
erty practical for other clubs?

KENNEDY: Our model would work for any
club of modest financial resources, as long
as you are patient and remain fiscally con-
servative. We know of other rugby clubs with
fabulous, fully developed properties that are
laboring under crushing mortgage debt.
Knowing the ebb and flow of rugby club do-
nations, the Richmond Rugby Foundation
never desired or felt it prudent to assume we
could support a full rugby facility under the
additional burden of debt.

RUGBY: Will the property eventually become
Richmond's primary location?

KENNEDY: Possibly, We feel that the cur-
rent improvements will increase the visibility
of the property with current members and give
prospective donors confidence that we are
committed to our property and will not waste
their money or time.

We are a long way from that model but
tickled with the equity the club has accumu-
lated and know that at Dorey Park we are not
at the mercy of each rainfall or Frisbee club
that comes along.

RUGBY: How many current members does
the club have?

KENNEDY: Thirty active members plus an-
other thirty old boys.

RUGBY: How many work on the field?
KENNEDY: There'are approximately 10-15
that are focused and would come out and work
if they were not otherwise occupied.

RUGBY: How often do you work on the field?

KENNEDY: The membership has not been
out to the field since last fall. In the spring of
2004, a half dozen of us cut fence posts with a portable saw mill,
 but that was a modest two-
day affair.

Rugby: Do you see an opportunity to rent the fields?

In order for us to succeed, the
local community must per-
ceive us as a true asset.
Rather than renting the fields
out, we'll probably make
them available for local youth
activities such as soccer.

Rugby: When do you plan on using the fields?

We could probably start playing some
casual rugby out there this summer but there
are several things we really need to do before-
hand. One is getting tax-exempt status to
avoid property taxes and the second is get-
ting a special use permit from the county
before we start playing rugby on property
that's zoned for agricultural use

I don't think it will be difficult getting the
special use permit, but if you're going to do it
right, the field must be properly drained and
graded and it's going to require parking.

RUGBY: Has the field been graded or
crowned?

KENNEDY: No, it's just a rough grade, enough
for us to grow grass and mow it. It's not in a
final state.

RUGBY: Are there any plans to build a club-
house?

KENNEDY: Before that happens we'll put up
a couple of modest structures, such as an
equipment building and an open air shelter so
we can stay out of the rain while we cook and
picnic. A clubhouse might come later but
that's really over the horizon right now.

The RRF has always been pay as you
go.

RUGBY: What are the prospects of you r field
being used as a profit center by renting it out
to other sports?

KENNEDY: It's a possibility but it would be
more of a collaboration with the community,
the local YMCA and Henrico County. In order
for us to succeed, the local community must
perceive us as a true asset. Rather than rent-
ing the fields out, we'll probably make them
available for local youth activities such as
soccer. Doing that will give us a bit more
access to Dorey Park, which is our primary
field right now.

It's not a direct dollar-dollar type thing
but more of a vehicle to get us integrated
within the community as an asset. We cer-
tainly see the county as an asset; they are
very valuable to us as far as our primary venue
is concerned.

RUGBY: do you have any obligations to
Henrico County for the use of the Dorev Park
field?

KENNEDY: No. We don't have to do any-
thing; they do everything. They remove the
trash, take care of our lights, mow and water
the field.

RUGBY: Had you known that you would have
such extensive access to Dorey Park, would
you still have gone ahead with your land
purchase?

RICHMOND: We would still have purchased
it. While Dorey Park is a great venue, we do
share its two fields with other activities. We've
lost the field to a kite-flying club and we also
lose it in bad weather. If it rains and they feel
the turf is jeopardized, they'll cancel practice.

It's great to have a place of your own on
which to play and practice and that's what our
property is all about right now.