A new logo. A new era. And a major investment in the future of Forest Hills athletes.
Credit: Yamaris Dujmic, Sweet Sol Photo
On a rainy September morning, just one day after the kickoff to the soccer season, Forest Hills families woke up to an unwelcome message in their inboxes:
“All games are canceled today, 9/13/2026, due to weather and unplayable field conditions.”
For local kids, it was a familiar frustration—and for coaches it was the perfect opportunity to remind their parents of FHYAA’’s Turf Our Fields campaign. Its goal is to raise $40,000 toward a new all-weather synthetic turf system at Fleet Street Fields.
“These fields are where thousands of kids learn to play, compete, make friends and become part of a community. We want to make sure they have a safe, high-quality place to do that for years to come” – Jen Frankel, FHYAA.
For more than 70 years, Fleet Street has been at the center of the FHYAA experience. “It is where children have scored their first touchdowns, hit their first home runs, kicked their first goals and learned the lessons that come with being part of a team,” says Jen Frankel, Fundraising Director and Flag Football Director. “But the aging natural grass fields struggle to withstand the demands of a busy youth sports organization—and weather can quickly turn a scheduled game day into a canceled one.”
Graphic created by: Larisa CourtienWithin weeks of the soccer season beginning, the grass disappears, leaving athletes playing on hard-packed, dusty dirt. A single afternoon of rain can turn the surface into a muddy, unsafe mess. In winter, frozen ground can make the fields difficult or impossible to play on. FHYAA says it is forced to cancel dozens of practices and games every year because conditions are unsafe.
“Turfing Fleet Street is about investing in the next generation of Forest Hills athletes,” says Frankel. “These fields are where thousands of kids learn to play, compete, make friends and become part of a community. We want to make sure they have a safe, high-quality place to do that for years to come.”
The campaign comes at a particularly meaningful moment for an organization entering a new era. FHYAA has unveiled a new logo, signaling the beginning of a fresh chapter for the organization, while building on a legacy that dates back to 1955. Its volunteer-led 501(c)(3) serves children from roughly ages 3 through 17 across soccer, baseball, softball, flag football and basketball.
And this year, that legacy produced an extraordinary accomplishment. Three former FHYAA baseball players—Aiden Ruiz, Dawson Montesa and Bayram Hot—were selected in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
Ruiz was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round, 44th overall. Montesa went to the St. Louis Cardinals with the 72nd overall pick, also in the second round, while Hot was selected by the New York Yankees in the 10th round.
According to FHYAA, it is believed to be roughly 40 years since one of its players was selected in the MLB Draft—and never before have three former players been drafted in the same year.
“Three MLB draft picks is an incredible achievement,” says Jay Rubin, Co-Chairman of FHYAA, “especially considering that we don’t play baseball year-round in Queens. In many other communities, children have access to year-round training, private coaching, and more opportunities to develop their skills.” To reach that level while playing primarily within our local community makes this accomplishment even more remarkable.
The FHYAA also applauds baseball alum Olivia Pichardo, who made history at Brown University as the first woman to play on a Division I men’s baseball team and the first woman to pitch in a Division I men’s baseball game.
Adds Rubin: “The success of Ruiz, Montesa and Hot, along with the groundbreaking accomplishments of FHYAA baseball alum Olivia Pichardo, is a testament to the talent and determination of young athletes who get their start in Forest Hills.”
But he and Frankel clarify that FHYAA’s mission has never been about developing future professionals, but teaching children about teamwork, sportsmanship and perseverance. The organization wants the next generation to have the same opportunity to discover what they can do.
That is where Turf Our Fields comes in, says Frankel, to protect the fields from damage and give more children more opportunities to play. “Let’s turn these “Dust Bowls” into a field of dreams for the next generation of Queens youth.”
