Reply to Arlington proposing to close county gymnastics program

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]Dear Members of the Arlington Parks and Recreation Community:

Tomorrow, Saturday, February 21, the County Manager is scheduled to release the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Proposed Operating Budget. Ahead of this release, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) wants to ensure competitive gymnastics families are made aware of important impacts to the County's gymnastics programs. The budget proposal addresses guidance given by the County Board, which directed the Manager to prepare a balanced budget that reflects County priorities while acknowledging the economic pressures experienced by taxpayers and homeowners. To balance the budget, the Manager was directed to propose service and program efficiencies as well as reductions that make this year's budget especially challenging.

[b]As a result, one proposed reduction is the elimination of Arlington's competitive and recreational gymnastics programs with plans to repurpose Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center (BSFC) for other operational needs.[/b] If adopted, the BSFC facility would close for at least one year and the competitive Aerials and Tigers gymnastics programs would be discontinued, effective May 16, 2026, which is the last day of the season for each team.

This is a difficult decision that was not made lightly. While DPR has been able to minimize major reductions in the past, departments across the County are facing significant impacts this year, requiring them to make tough choices. Since the pandemic, DPR's competitive and recreational programs have seen a decline in participation. As a result, these programs have experienced on-going challenges with meeting cost recovery goals, recruiting and retaining staff, and serving a broad range of participants. Despite this difficult news, DPR acknowledges the meaningful impact these programs have had on the area's youth and athletes over the years. While this reduction means DPR would not be able to directly provide these services moving forward, [b]Arlington is fortunate to be part of a region that offers many non-County alternatives.[/b]

We encourage you to learn more about the proposed budget and specific impacts at the County Board's work session with DPR on Thursday, March 5 at 1:00 p.m. While community members are permitted to watch and listen, there is no opportunity for the public to participate in this work session.

The County Board will host two opportunities for public comments on budget issues:
Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. - Public Budget Hearing
Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. - Public Tax Rate and Fees Hearing

All hearings and work sessions will be held in the County Board Room at the Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 3rd Floor and are also available to view online. Resources can be found on the County Board meetings and agendas webpage. Community members can also share their views online by emailing dmf@arlingtonva.us.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Should you have any questions or need further information do not hesitate to contact me directly at bcharris@arlingtonva.us or 703-228-1872.

Ben Harris

Department of Parks and Recreation
Arlington County Government
registration@arlingtonva.us
703-228-4747
arlingtonva.us/DPR[/quote]

This is shocking.  If you've ever tried to sign a kid up for gymnastics you'd know that it's nearly impossible to get a spot in any program nearby to Arlington.  Every gymnastics class is terribly over subscribed with a long waitlist.  It's just wrong to say that there are non-county options.  That's just not true.  Demand far exceeds supply for local gymnastics programs.[/quote]

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