Boosted by a group of dedicated volunteers, the beloved Forest Hills Gardens education and community center boasts a newly renovated pool and free NYC preschool starting in September.
By COLE SINANIAN | cole@queensledger.com
FOREST HILLS GARDENS — Each time the skies open up for a torrential summer downpour, John Stolz is likely on his back, crammed into a crawl space below the Forest Hills Gardens Community House’s pool, looking for leaks.
As Chairperson of the Community House — which celebrates its 100-year-anniversary on August 15 — Stolz has dedicated much of his past three years to bringing the 97-year-old pool up to code. A structural collapse in August 2023 left it in need of $1 million worth of repairs, with some community members questioning the broader architectural integrity of the building. Three years of consultations, reports, and construction projects largely overseen by Stolz later, the pool has reopened, marking a new era for the house, cornerstone of the Forest Hills Gardens community that’s offered swim and sports classes, education, event space, and afterschool services for young children since the 1920s.
“100 years ago, the neighborhood decided that they wanted a non-sectarian place where people could come together and celebrate different events,” Stolz said. “There’s been a sense of pride and unity ever since. It’s really a central part of Forest Hills Gardens.”
Now, as the Community House approaches its 100th anniversary and a new public preschool program set to open in the fall, the pool and the building are in their best shape in years thanks to Stolz, Director Dave Murphy and the rest of the house’s board, which has worked tirelessly to ensure the treasured space continues to serve as a cornerstone of the Forest Hills Garden community.
“It felt like the time to give back in the neighborhood that I live in, where my children go to school, where my family spends all of its time,” Stolz said.
Since the beginning, the Forest Hills Gardens Community House has been dedicated to bringing non-religious social benefits to the neighborhood, Stolz said, with a particular focus on school-age children. While the space also offers fitness classes, yoga and zumba for adults, its centerpiece is the Community House Nursery, a non-profit preschool program that’s registered with the New York State Board of Regents and registered with the NYC Department of Health. Starting in September, the Community House will begin offering a free public 3k program for the 2026-2027 school year.
The Forest Hills Gardens Community House is hosting an invite-only 100th anniversary on Saturday, August 15, while leaders are planning a public gala for October. Those interested in the Forest Hills Gardens Community House 3k program can contact educational director Wendy Greenberg at wgreenberg@citgch.org.
