To:

Queens Borough Commissioner: Michael Dockett

Chief of Recreation: Chris Davis

Deputy Chief of Recreation: Nathalia Peralta

Regional Manager: Eric Goetz

Regional Manager: Daniel Piastuck

Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center Manager(S): Angela Elie, Chris Wong & Tammy Mitchell

It is with a sense of urgency that we write to you about a matter of great concern.

As the parents of the many members of Murphy’s Martial Arts, we’ve gathered to reach out to you in opposition of plans to discontinue the well-loved and long-standing program due to end this February.

Our children have come to know The Lost Battalion as their beloved Martial Art’s school for over the course of 22 years. Murphy’s Martial Arts has had an immense impact on our children and community since the starting of this program. It has piqued the interest of our youth and taught them discipline, respect and the valuable skill of awareness and self-perseverance. The program has also had an emotional and social impact on our children. The instructors of this program have built a fundamental support system and a safe place for our kids which we’ve noticed has helped them have a positive outlook and approach in their daily life. What we feel sets this particular program apart from many other options we have explored it has to be the sheer excitement and anticipation we see in the students as they await their next training session. It takes a special talent and passion to be able to engage students of various ages and strength levels for an extended period.

From our understanding the very idea of a community recreation center is to provide affordable recreational opportunity without sacrificing quality. We urge you to not deprive our children of this opportunity. It is with heavy heart that we plead with you to reconsider the elimination of Murphy’s Martial Arts. Ideally, we would be ecstatic to see the classes continue and resume after the remodeling of the center. However, we do understand that our ideal may not be in your power but at the very least we would greatly appreciate you to allow us to benefit and watch our children grow with the classes until the beginning of remodel.

Respectfully Submitted,

Guardians of Murphy’s Martial Arts Members