Newly upgraded basketball courts a place to heal, have fun in memory of Our London Family

Basketball enthusiasts are now enjoying two courts in London, Ont.'s west end that have been newly upgraded to commemorate the Afzaal family. 

The upgrades were unveiled to the public on Saturday at West Lions Park by representatives from the City of London, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MSLE) and the Toronto Raptors. Days later, they're already being put to good use. 

"It's something a community can come around and get together," said Sho Jahangir, 19. "I hope people come out and play. Of course it's getting colder now, but hopefully when it gets warmer again, people come out." 

A resident of the neighbourhood, Jahangir has visited the court with his friends, Dara Derakshan and Mateen Khalatbari, both 19, almost every day since it opened. 

"After our classes, you know, it can be stressful," said Derakshan. "We just come and let it out on the court." 

On June 6, 2021, Yumna Afzaal, 15, her mom and dad, Madiha Salman, 44, and Salman Afzaal, 46, and her grandmother, Talat Afzaal, 74, were killed when a vehicle jumped a curb while they were out for a Sunday evening walk. Police and prosecutors say the attack was motivated by anti-Muslim hate. A man has been charged and faces trial in 2023.

The incident shined a light on the effects of unchecked Islamophobia, and the Afzaals became known as Our London Family throughout the nation. 

The basketball courts were backed by a $250,000 donation from the MLSE and MLSE Foundation, which collaborated with the city to make the upgrades possible. The city said in a statement that the courts at West Lions Park were selected in consultation with the Muslim community due to their proximity to the London Muslim Mosque. 

Several youth representatives from the Muslim community contributed their insight into the courts' redesign, said Eric Conway, landscape planner for the City of London. 

He said the turf's purple and green colours are symbolic of Our London Family and support for the Muslim community. 

The new courts feature new hoops with glass backboards and upgraded seating. All four directions are marked in the centre of the courts, so they are deliberately aligned in the direction of prayer for members of the Muslim community.

Creating a comfortable space for both players and onlookers to gather was top of mind in the new design, Conway said.

"You can have a little pickup game with your friends, or we can have arranged games and can host more than one game at the same time, with lots of space for community events and gathering around," he added. 

"We're very happy with the amount of community members we saw using them right away once they opened up."