The reconstruction refurbished the center\u2019s weightlifting area, spin room and fitness room and equipped each space with new equipment. Lockers and storage areas were also upgraded to make the facility easier to navigate and better suited to a wide range of activities.<\/p>\n
Accessibility was a central part of the project. The building now has accessible restrooms on every floor, as well as wider and safer routes throughout the facility. The project added doors at the front entrance, relocated and enclosed the stairways near the entrance, rebuilt existing staircases and added a new staircase on the east side of the building.<\/p>\n
Restrooms on the first and second floors were redesigned to be fully accessible, with new stalls and fixtures. A former storage room was converted into accessible restrooms, while bathrooms that were too small to accommodate wheelchair users were converted into changing rooms.<\/p>\n
The project also delivered major upgrades to the building\u2019s safety and infrastructure. Lost Battalion Hall now has a new fire alarm and sprinkler system, a new rooftop generator and a new water line. New water heaters will improve energy efficiency while a new heating and cooling system will keep the lobby comfortable year-round.<\/p>\n
\u201cRego Park children and families have long deserved high-quality recreation space to call their own, especially in a community that glaringly lacks sizeable parks or playgrounds. But we are delivering exactly that this massive refurbishment of Lost Battalion Hall, which has been the anchor of this neighborhood for generations,\u201d said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. \u201cEnsuring our neighbors have safe spaces that support our physical and mental wellness is a top priority of my administration, and the reimagined Lost Battalion Hall is a major component of that mission. I hope all Rego Park families enjoy this space to the fullest, whether you’re coming to hit the court, hit the weights or hang out with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lost Battalion Hall has become a staple in Queens for 87 years. It is where neighbors come together, where kids can stay active, where seniors can socialize and where people of all ages and backgrounds can unwind. And now, with these renovations, we have a facility that’s better equipped to serve the community here for generations to come,\u201d said Council Member James F. Gennaro. \u201cI’m thrilled to see Lost Battalion Hall getting a new lease on life \u2013 especially after such a long wait! Congratulations to everyone who helped turn this project into a reality!\u201d<\/p>\n
“I am happy to see the return of Lost Battalion Hall, as this investment means so much to families,\u201d said Assemblywoman Larinda C. Hooks. \u201cAccess to and investment in youth recreation centers should be a prevalent concern. It is important that every community should have at least one recreation center for young people to enjoy as a safe space to congregate and have fun. It is equally as important that we invest in these type of centers as we continue to look for ways to combat gang and gun violence. Providing alternatives must come first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always had a soft spot for Lost Battalion Hall, and while it\u2019s just outside my district, I know how much it means to so many families in our community,\u201d said Council Member Phil Wong. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see this historic Queens landmark finally reopen with the improvements it deserves, and I look forward to seeing generations of Queens families continue to enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur recreation centers have always been a staple of our communities. Here, young people discover their passions, families come together, and neighbors build lasting connections, said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry, Co-Chair of the Queens Delegation. This investment ensures Lost Battalion Hall can continue serving our communities for generations to come. Every New Yorker deserves access to safe, welcoming, and accessible spaces. I\u2019m proud to celebrate this reopening and thank Mayor Mamdani, NYC Parks, and all partners involved for investing in the spaces that bring our communities together.\u201d<\/p>\n
A history public service<\/p>\n
Lost Battalion Hall was constructed in 1939 after the Works Progress Administration appropriated $100,000 for a two-story, 36,000-square-foot facility with a firing range and drill hall for the Queens VFW and American Legion.<\/p>\n
The City placed the property under Parks jurisdiction on Dec. 6, 1960, and Parks subsequently transformed the building into a recreation center, including a gymnasium with basketball courts.<\/p>\n
The center takes its name from the famous \u201cLost Battalion\u201d of World War I: more than 500 soldiers from the U.S. Army\u2019s 77th Division, many of them New Yorkers, who were cut off and surrounded by German forces in France\u2019s Argonne Forest in October 1918. The soldiers held their position for nearly a week until reinforcements arrived, and their courage became one of the most enduring stories of the war.<\/p>\n
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