While County Board members have agreed to save gymnastics programming, advocates now fear that a proposed hike in participation fees may still make the programs inaccessible for many families.
At last week’s budget-markup session, Board members settled on a proposal that would increase participation fees for the Arlington Aerials and Arlington Tigers gymnastics programs 44% in the coming year.
Details remain to be worked out, but County Board members have informally decided not to eliminate gymnastics programming or close Cherrydale Library in the coming year.
Details on both decisions are likely to come into clearer view this afternoon, when Board members hold their budget markup session starting at 2:30 p.m. Final budget adoption is slated for next Wednesday, April 22.
Gymnastics boosters continue their push to have County Board members rescind proposed cuts to programming and the closure of the Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center.
Much of the lobbying is now coming from youths who would be impacted by the closure.
County staff are defending a controversial cost-saving proposal to eliminate gymnastics programming and shutter Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center for up to a year.
“We need to make sure that we’re using our funding and resources to serve the most people and those in need,” County Manager Mark Schwartz told County Board members in a March 5 budget work session focused on the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Having switched sports for her junior year, Teagan Wielechowski is enjoying far greater success at the highest level of girls high-school gymnastics.
Individually, the standout for the Yorktown Patriots capped her initial season in prep gymnastics by finishing second in the all-around at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) state championship Feb. 21 in Virginia Beach with a 38.350 score.
Supporters of Arlington youth gymnastics turned out last night (Tuesday) to press county leaders on planned cuts to local programs.
A $1.7 billion budget proposal from County Manager Mark Schwartz calls for shuttering the Arlington Aerials and Arlington Tigers, along with community gymnastics programs, at Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center. The programs, operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation, do not recoup costs through user fees, Schwartz and staff have said.
A tax rate increase, the closure of the Cherrydale Library and the elimination of a popular youth gymnastics program are key components of the new budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.
The $1.69 billion spending plan, released at a County Board meeting on Saturday, is down a fraction of a percent from the adopted fiscal year 2026 plan. The almost unprecedented year-over-year decrease reflects ongoing concerns about declining revenue from commercial office buildings, hotel stays and the federal government.
The Yorktown Patriots warmed up for the state gymnastics tournament with convincing victories at the Liberty District and 6D North Region championships.
The Patriots won the district championship on Feb. 2 with a 146.150 team score, then finished first in the region Feb. 11 with a 143.650 total. Both meets were at Washington-Liberty High School.
Firefighters battled a large house fire in the Woodmont neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.
The fire scene is the 2900 block of 24th Road N., south of the YMCA gymnastics center. Black smoke could be seen rising from a distance as a result of the blaze.
The Arlington Tigers boys gymnastics program had a strong showing at the recent Virginia State Championships in Lynchburg.
Alex Epstein was one of the top individual performers, winning the all-around competition at the platinum level and helping the Tigers win the state team title at that level.
Yorktown High School junior Anya Clemmer was the lone gymnast from Arlington to participate in the recent Virginia High School League Class 6 state competition.
The junior team captain competed in three individual events, finishing among the top 30 in each at Lake Braddock Secondary School.
Anya Clemmer of the Yorktown Patriots and Madeleine Wearing of the Wakefield Warriors were the standouts from Arlington teams at the girls 6D North Region gymnastics championships.
Clemmer finished third in the all-around competition with a 36.825 score and Wearing was right behind in fourth (36.425).
