December 2 - Do more with less.
The saying has become common across the country as facility access struggles to maintain pace with participant growth within youth sports organizations.
Arlington Little League, the home to over 1,400 youth players in a county constantly evolving with commercial and residential growth, has become a local example of the conundrum. Tomorrow, in a meeting open to the public, the league is hoping members of the community will rally behind an effort to save one of its valued facilities.
The Four Mile Run Valley corridor in South Arlington is exploring the potential of developing a large portion of land along Shirlington Road and Four Mile Run Drive, where Jennie Dean Park serves as home to two 60-foot diamonds - one of ALL’s fields as well an adult softball field.
With his growing league set to field 46 teams in seven age divisions in 2017, ALL president Adam Balutis says the league simply cannot lose one of its 35 diamonds.
“We had an increase of over 800 kids since 2010,” Balutis said. “There are not enough fields, and the fields we do have are getting a lot of wear and tear. The demand is growing and the supply is certainly not growing. It’s probably shrinking.”
Balutis, the league’s president since 2005, says ALL has felt the effects of shrinking field access while more and more of the county’s children sign up to play each year.
“Four or five years ago, our teams were practicing four times a week for an hour and a half each day, and that’s down to three days a week of practice for an hour each day,” he said. “Our practice time has been cut in half. I don’t know if three hours a week is enough.”
The league’s coaches agree.
“It’s tough,” said one ALL coach, who asked not to be identified. “It’s already jam-packed and when you have to share the field it leads to frustration with the coaches and the players.”
According to the league, Jennie Dean is used each day during the spring season. Teams practice on the field as many as four times a day during the week and eight times daily on weekends. Balutis estimates that over 420 of ALL’s players use the field each week. Arlington Babe Ruth and adult softball groups also use the fields at Jennie Dean.
Losing access to the field, Balutis said, would significantly cut into practice time for teams, thus hampering the league’s ability to develop young players.
“I’m not sure if people really know how important that space is at Jennie Dean,” Balutis said. “You can’t go shorter than an hour long practice.”
In an effort to maximize practice time on the limited space, ALL has had to ask teams to share available space, with one team utilizing the infield while the other practices in the outfield. The arrangement has caused a safety hazard in addition to the stress it puts on coaches to develop players. Making scheduling even more difficult is the fact that a limited number of fields have lights.
The need for development in the county is evident. Arlington County Public Schools have also seen a rise in class size, and the county appears to be transforming from a young demographic with jobs that require frequent relocation, to a community made up of mostly families with children. This, Balutis says, has led to the influx of players and need for more fields.
“I think a lot of people are looking at it as a way to renovate and expand what is already there,” Balutis said. “But a lot of people in that neighborhood don’t have sports-playing children.
“I don’t think they know how important it is for us to preserve the fields.”
Balutis is urging the Arlington community to attend tomorrow's meeting at Drew Model School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community members will have the opportunity to discuss the future of the Four Mile Run Valley area and Jennie Dean. Community members can also share opinions online at at this link or can contact Arlington Little League at info@arlingtonlittleleague.org with comments to be shared at the meeting.
“It is Important to share with the county and the parks and recreation department how much we rely on those fields,” Balutis said. “And how much we enjoy the park.”
Photo of Jennie Dean Park courtesy of Arlington Little League
