Arlington proposing to close county gymnastics program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.arlnow.com/2026/02/23/arlington-budget-proposes-tax-increase-closure-of-gymnastics-program-and-library/

Many of that team’s members compete year-round for the Arlington Aerials and learned of the planned cuts while competing at the state meet in Virginia Beach, according to a website created by advocates.

This is not the flex they think it is. The County is heavily subsidizing a gymanstics team and directly employing the coaches who go to a state meet in Virginia Beach? Huh? I think the County directly employs the coaches right? That's what it sounds like. Please correct if wrong.

The quote you pulled was referring to an APS high school gymnastics team (probably Yorktown but I haven’t read the article yet) competing at the VHSL gymnastics state meet. In this capacity, the coaches of Yorktown would be employed by APS but they could also be employed by Arlington parks and recreation to coach at Barcroft in a separate capacity for those programs (recreational classes and USA Gymnastics sanctioned competitive events).

I do not know if that is the case, btw. They might work for any number of other programs or just teach and coach high school gymnastics. A lot of high school gymnastics coaches work year round in USA Gymnastics programs.

Many gymnasts who are able to qualify for VHSL states also do gymnastics at other facilities year round. In the case of this quote, the facility for most of those team members was Barcroft.

Participation in VHSL events, VHSL coaching stipends would all be under APS budgeting for those items. In some counties, VHSL teams can practice at outside facilities, but is not a factor here.

Ah yes, I see. Thanks for explaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Such a ridiculous cut. We don’t have a dog in this fight; my kids stopped doing gymnastics in preschool. However, the demand is there. Arlington P&R has gotten so adverse to charging for anything and always covering costs for any family that can’t come up with it themselves that they are bankrupting their programs. They now let people who need fee assistance to register first for summer camp, so they will literally fill the most popular, in-demand camps with kids that bring in no money before people who can pay the fees can even register. I’m all for helping all kids get access to these programs, but if it means they have to cut the programs entirely, where is the good in that?

This is not correct. The county only holds a few early registration classes for each camp, so they don’t really fill up.

This was the schedule this year:
Summer Camp registration follows the following staggered schedule (all registrations begin at 12 p.m., noon):

Mon., Feb. 2 - Tue., Feb. 10 (at 5 p.m.):
Early registration for campers enrolled in DPR's Fee Reduction Program (by phone at 703-228-4747 or in-person at Lubber Run Community Center only).
Wed., Feb. 11: Partner Camps
Wed., Feb. 18: Parks & Recreation Camps
Wed., Feb. 25: Out-of-County registration

I don't think you understand. The county only holds a few spaces for each camp for the early registration period so they don't fill up at that point. There are still plenty of spots for the regular registration (though that process is still a total disaster).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A full fledged gymnastics program doesn't make sense.

You can provide tumbling and dance classes with far less equipment and much lower insurance costs, and that will be enough for like 95% of kids to get the exposure they need to a sport they might enjoy. The die hards can go pay for private instruction on all the apparatus (with the added risks of injury and the much higher facility costs due to the equipment and insurance requirements). There's no reason for a full scale gymnastics facility.

Focusing on sports with minimal equipment needs also makes it easier for the county to invest in coaching, clean and updated facilities, and fitness offerings that have broader social benefits. Gymnastics-obsessed kids are not some underserved demographic here.

The county can't build the boondoggle that is Long Bridge and then say it won't invest in youth sports that require specialized facilities. Besides, this program is already running and has been for nearly 50 years. The equipment is there. The building is there. Many kids are heavily invested in the program. And yes, gymnastics is underserved in Arlington. It's super hard to get into classes, with long waitlists, and there are not adequate local facilities. Just because it's not the sport your kid has chosen doesn't make it deserving of being killed. The county needs to engage on options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can appreciate the gymnastics people want this team, love this team, use this team, etc.

I still do not think the County should be paying for this or running a team at this level or ever should have been. How does the County get themselves into these things?

I agree...I grew up in another state and our county and local governments never ran gymnastics teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A full fledged gymnastics program doesn't make sense.

You can provide tumbling and dance classes with far less equipment and much lower insurance costs, and that will be enough for like 95% of kids to get the exposure they need to a sport they might enjoy. The die hards can go pay for private instruction on all the apparatus (with the added risks of injury and the much higher facility costs due to the equipment and insurance requirements). There's no reason for a full scale gymnastics facility.

Focusing on sports with minimal equipment needs also makes it easier for the county to invest in coaching, clean and updated facilities, and fitness offerings that have broader social benefits. Gymnastics-obsessed kids are not some underserved demographic here.

The county can't build the boondoggle that is Long Bridge and then say it won't invest in youth sports that require specialized facilities. Besides, this program is already running and has been for nearly 50 years. The equipment is there. The building is there. Many kids are heavily invested in the program. And yes, gymnastics is underserved in Arlington. It's super hard to get into classes, with long waitlists, and there are not adequate local facilities. Just because it's not the sport your kid has chosen doesn't make it deserving of being killed. The county needs to engage on options.

This could be said for hockey, and yet the county does not engage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can appreciate the gymnastics people want this team, love this team, use this team, etc.

I still do not think the County should be paying for this or running a team at this level or ever should have been. How does the County get themselves into these things?

I agree...I grew up in another state and our county and local governments never ran gymnastics teams.

I grew up in a place without county pools. Your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Such a ridiculous cut. We don’t have a dog in this fight; my kids stopped doing gymnastics in preschool. However, the demand is there. Arlington P&R has gotten so adverse to charging for anything and always covering costs for any family that can’t come up with it themselves that they are bankrupting their programs. They now let people who need fee assistance to register first for summer camp, so they will literally fill the most popular, in-demand camps with kids that bring in no money before people who can pay the fees can even register. I’m all for helping all kids get access to these programs, but if it means they have to cut the programs entirely, where is the good in that?

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A full fledged gymnastics program doesn't make sense.

You can provide tumbling and dance classes with far less equipment and much lower insurance costs, and that will be enough for like 95% of kids to get the exposure they need to a sport they might enjoy. The die hards can go pay for private instruction on all the apparatus (with the added risks of injury and the much higher facility costs due to the equipment and insurance requirements). There's no reason for a full scale gymnastics facility.

Focusing on sports with minimal equipment needs also makes it easier for the county to invest in coaching, clean and updated facilities, and fitness offerings that have broader social benefits. Gymnastics-obsessed kids are not some underserved demographic here.

The county can't build the boondoggle that is Long Bridge and then say it won't invest in youth sports that require specialized facilities. Besides, this program is already running and has been for nearly 50 years. The equipment is there. The building is there. Many kids are heavily invested in the program. And yes, gymnastics is underserved in Arlington. It's super hard to get into classes, with long waitlists, and there are not adequate local facilities. Just because it's not the sport your kid has chosen doesn't make it deserving of being killed. The county needs to engage on options.

This could be said for hockey, and yet the county does not engage.

The Ballston rink is a local option and I've never heard of waitlists to participate.

[Anonymous]

Arlington needs to cut down on its bloated, overpaid police force. Targeting the wrong things, as usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A full fledged gymnastics program doesn't make sense.

You can provide tumbling and dance classes with far less equipment and much lower insurance costs, and that will be enough for like 95% of kids to get the exposure they need to a sport they might enjoy. The die hards can go pay for private instruction on all the apparatus (with the added risks of injury and the much higher facility costs due to the equipment and insurance requirements). There's no reason for a full scale gymnastics facility.

Focusing on sports with minimal equipment needs also makes it easier for the county to invest in coaching, clean and updated facilities, and fitness offerings that have broader social benefits. Gymnastics-obsessed kids are not some underserved demographic here.

The county can't build the boondoggle that is Long Bridge and then say it won't invest in youth sports that require specialized facilities. Besides, this program is already running and has been for nearly 50 years. The equipment is there. The building is there. Many kids are heavily invested in the program. And yes, gymnastics is underserved in Arlington. It's super hard to get into classes, with long waitlists, and there are not adequate local facilities. Just because it's not the sport your kid has chosen doesn't make it deserving of being killed. The county needs to engage on options.

This could be said for hockey, and yet the county does not engage.

No it can't. Arlington hasnt been running a hockey program for nearly 50 years. It never has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This cut is absolute insanity. This program is so good for our kids. And listening to the meeting yesterday, they want to cut this and library to increase some salaries, namely in the police force, and build up reserves. How about we fund what we need today and let the reserves just be. What good is tomorrow if we kill our property values and community by cutting these sorts of programs.

And I'll add to say that there are other programs in the area is a flat out falsehood. We have been at three other gyms in the area. They all have had MAJOR safe sport problems -- men treating young girls in a way that isn't okay. Coaches having relationships with gymnastics. Coaches using public body shaming on athletes. There are other programs on paper. But they are not all safe programs.

+1. It serves so many kids and there aren't other local options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can appreciate the gymnastics people want this team, love this team, use this team, etc.

I still do not think the County should be paying for this or running a team at this level or ever should have been. How does the County get themselves into these things?

I agree...I grew up in another state and our county and local governments never ran gymnastics teams.

I grew up in a place without county pools. Your point?

The county should not be running a gymnastics team. I personally do not think it's a good use of government resources. Pools serve a lot of different community members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A full fledged gymnastics program doesn't make sense.

You can provide tumbling and dance classes with far less equipment and much lower insurance costs, and that will be enough for like 95% of kids to get the exposure they need to a sport they might enjoy. The die hards can go pay for private instruction on all the apparatus (with the added risks of injury and the much higher facility costs due to the equipment and insurance requirements). There's no reason for a full scale gymnastics facility.

Focusing on sports with minimal equipment needs also makes it easier for the county to invest in coaching, clean and updated facilities, and fitness offerings that have broader social benefits. Gymnastics-obsessed kids are not some underserved demographic here.

The county can't build the boondoggle that is Long Bridge and then say it won't invest in youth sports that require specialized facilities. Besides, this program is already running and has been for nearly 50 years. The equipment is there. The building is there. Many kids are heavily invested in the program. And yes, gymnastics is underserved in Arlington. It's super hard to get into classes, with long waitlists, and there are not adequate local facilities. Just because it's not the sport your kid has chosen doesn't make it deserving of being killed. The county needs to engage on options.

This could be said for hockey, and yet the county does not engage.

No it can't. Arlington hasnt been running a hockey program for nearly 50 years. It never has.

Longevity is not a useful argument here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A full fledged gymnastics program doesn't make sense.

You can provide tumbling and dance classes with far less equipment and much lower insurance costs, and that will be enough for like 95% of kids to get the exposure they need to a sport they might enjoy. The die hards can go pay for private instruction on all the apparatus (with the added risks of injury and the much higher facility costs due to the equipment and insurance requirements). There's no reason for a full scale gymnastics facility.

Focusing on sports with minimal equipment needs also makes it easier for the county to invest in coaching, clean and updated facilities, and fitness offerings that have broader social benefits. Gymnastics-obsessed kids are not some underserved demographic here.

The county can't build the boondoggle that is Long Bridge and then say it won't invest in youth sports that require specialized facilities. Besides, this program is already running and has been for nearly 50 years. The equipment is there. The building is there. Many kids are heavily invested in the program. And yes, gymnastics is underserved in Arlington. It's super hard to get into classes, with long waitlists, and there are not adequate local facilities. Just because it's not the sport your kid has chosen doesn't make it deserving of being killed. The county needs to engage on options.

If you’re a competitive gymnastics family, would you be willing to pay closer to what it actually costs to keep this program running? Even if it means your fees triple?

If the answer is no, there is no need for further discussion.

[Anonymous]

Why does how long we’ve been doing the wrong thing make a compelling argument? It doesn’t.

Pools are far more widely used by everyone in the community at every stage of life. But yes anyone signed up for AAC should pay full cost and the coaches should not be county employees. AAC just shouldn’t exist probably. As a philosophical starting point the county should not be employing coaches for selective teams.