We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Arlington, respectfully urge the YMCA and Arlington County to preserve and prioritize indoor tennis facilities as part of any redevelopment or long-term planning for recreational infrastructure in our community.

The renovation plans for the YMCA that eliminate all indoor tennis courts would result in the loss of Arlington’s most accessible indoor tennis facilities. This would have significant and lasting consequences for community health, equity, youth development, and quality of life.

1. Tennis supports lifelong health—for all ages
Tennis is uniquely accessible across the lifespan. Children, teens, adults, and seniors can all play safely at appropriate levels. Unlike many high-impact or age-limited sports, tennis allows people to remain active well into later decades of life.

Multiple long-term health studies have shown that tennis is associated with increased longevity, cardiovascular health, balance, coordination, cognitive function, and reduced risk of chronic disease. It combines aerobic exercise, strength, agility, and mental focus in a single activity (see https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/well/move/sports-exercise-longevity.html) 

2. Tennis is inherently social—unlike many indoor fitness options
While Arlington offers many indoor gyms and aquatic facilities, these activities are largely solitary / individual sports. Tennis is inherently social and community-building. It fosters connection, accountability, mentorship, and intergenerational interaction—benefits that are increasingly important in an era of social isolation.

Indoor tennis provides a structured, welcoming environment for people to meet, stay engaged, and build lasting community ties.

3. Equity and affordability are at stake
The YMCA provides the only regularly available indoor tennis courts in Arlington open to the broader community. Other indoor courts are limited to private clubs or outside the county, making truly accessible indoor tennis scarce, putting the sport out of reach for many families, seniors, youth players, and working professionals.

Public and nonprofit recreational spaces play a critical role in ensuring that sports are not limited to those who can access and afford private memberships. Tennis should not become an exclusive fair-weather activity in Arlington.

4. Arlington already has abundant indoor fitness and aquatics options
Virginia Square / Clarendon and surrounding neighborhoods are saturated with:

• Apartment-building gyms
• Private fitness studios
• Boutique workout spaces
• Public and private pools (including the Washington-Liberty Aquatic Center just 0.5 miles away from the current YMCA Tennis Center)

In contrast, indoor tennis is extremely scarce. Removing courts does not address a gap—it widens one.

Indoor tennis is not an underused amenity—it is a high-value, high-demand resource.

Our Request
We respectfully ask that:

• The YMCA reconsider plans that eliminate indoor tennis and explore renovation designs that retain or modernize tennis courts alongside other fitness offerings.
• Arlington County recognize indoor tennis as a critical recreational asset and ensure that future planning and partnerships protect access to publicly available indoor tennis facilities.

This is not a request to limit progress or modernization. It is a call to ensure that progress reflects balance, inclusion, and long-term community well-being.

Indoor tennis is:

• A public health asset
• A social connector
• A lifelong sport
• An equity issue

Once lost, this infrastructure is extraordinarily difficult to replace.

We urge decision-makers to work collaboratively with the community to preserve indoor tennis in Arlington—for today’s residents and future generations.