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Funding: Okay Bears
Partners: Okay Bears, The Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Collaborators: El Mina Municipality, Roula Abdo, Muralize
The inclusive basketball court was developed at the premises of the Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (FRPD) in El Mina, Tripoli, responding to the need for accessible and dignified recreational spaces for persons with disabilities and local youth. Early engagement with FRDP members and community participants helped identify key spatial and accessibility challenges, including unsafe circulation paths, lack of inclusive sports infrastructure, and limited opportunities for social interaction.
The site was selected not only for its central location but also for its potential to become a visible model of inclusion within the neighborhood, transforming an underutilized space into a shared community asset.
The project was grounded in a participatory design process that placed persons with disabilities and community members at the center of decision-making. Over several months, participants engaged in workshops, creative sessions, and discussions. Activities such as basketball drills, storytelling, drawing, and group reflections enabled participants to share lived experiences of navigating the city and articulate what inclusion meant to them. These contributions directly informed both functional and aesthetic decisions, ensuring the space genuinely reflected the voices, needs, and aspirations of its users.
“We wanted the court to feel like it belongs to us. Now when I play here, I see my story on the wall.”
Designing the court focused on accessibility, safety, and fostering a strong sense of ownership among users. Beyond its functional role, the space was conceived as a reflection of the people who use it. Participants co-designed the artwork, selecting colors, symbols, characters, and empowering phrases that express their experiences and aspirations. A large artwork was painted directly onto the court by artist Roula Abdo, centred on the pose of a bear to symbolize strength and resilience.
The Okay court was inaugurated through a public celebration held under the patronage of the Minister of Youth and Sports that included a wheelchair basketball match led by FRPD players to raise awareness of adaptive sports and inclusive access. Now open to a wider range of community members, the court functions as more than a sports facility. It is a living space for play, social connection, and everyday practice of equality.
“This is more than a basketball court. It’s a space where equality is practised every day.”
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