Arlington County DPR Director Jane Rudolph presented 13 "alternatives" to the Board without answering basic questions: How far away are they? Do they have capacity? Are they even the same sport?
What the Analysis Found
Of the 13 facilities DPR listed: 5 are rec-only with no competitive pathway (gymnasts age out with nowhere to advance), 6 of 13 cannot serve competitive gymnastics at all, 2 are in Maryland, 1 is an entirely different sport (rhythmic gymnastics), and 1 is a 90-minute drive in Stafford County — 60 miles away. Every option has limited capacity. None can absorb 2,000+ displaced Barcroft families.
What Makes Barcroft Irreplaceable
Barcroft is the only facility in the region offering recreational, competitive (boys and girls), and adaptive gymnastics under one roof. It's an interconnected ecosystem: rec feeds into team, and 75% of the adaptive program's volunteers are competitive athletes.
Climate Impact
Forcing 2,000+ families to drive to distant facilities adds approximately 4 million extra vehicle miles per year and roughly 1,600 tons of CO₂ annually — equivalent to the carbon absorption of 1,600 acres of forest, nearly the size of Arlington's entire park system. This directly conflicts with Arlington County's own Climate Action Plan.