Plano officials announced Monday that the city-run Aerobats competitive gymnastics program will be sunsetted on May 31, 2026, after staff cited declining participation and persistent operating losses.

“During that time, we averaged about 600 to 700 gymnasts,” Susie Hergenraider, assistant director over recreation, told the City Council. Hergenraider said private gymnastics clubs now dominate the market, competing for students and qualified coaches, and that the program — required to operate within the recreation revolving fund and achieve full-cost recovery — has shown a long-term downward trend in both attendance and revenue.

Hergenraider said staff eliminated a full-time coaching position through attrition in 2020 and consolidated the program to a single gym in 2023. She said city staff made a decision on Oct. 3 to end the program effective Oct. 31 but, after public feedback, agreed to continue operations at Oak Point Recreation Center through May 2026 to give athletes time to find alternatives.

The city is weighing several options for the Oak Point space, Hergenraider said: lease the space to a private gymnastics operator, convert it into a multiuse court for activities such as pickleball and volleyball, or offer short (six- to eight-week) recreational classes that would be more likely to recover costs. “We could lease this out to a private gym,” she said. “A competitive program typically costs us money, whereas just regular gymnastics classes earn us revenue.”

Council members expressed concern about the timing and communications to families. Council member Quintanilla asked when parents were notified; he said he learned of the change only after receiving constituent emails. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem praised staff for accommodating affected families and urged continued efforts to preserve affordable, noncompetitive gymnastics and birthday-party options if possible.

Hergenraider confirmed the city owns the apparatus used by the program and said staff would consider alternative uses for the facility after the sunset date. The council did not take a final vote on a permanent disposition during the meeting.

The city plans to finalize program closure details and next steps before the May 31, 2026 sunset date.