Martin Luther King Jr. Park Basketball Court Revitalization

Buckets & Borders and Ball Her Way teamed up to revitalize the basketball court at Martin Luther King Park in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG), Montréal. We were inspired to support the project after watching a documentary about a similar initiative they led in Montréal-Nord and seeing how deeply the community and its youth valued that court. It reinforced the importance of investing in shared spaces that foster connection, belonging, and community pride.

Buckets & Borders has gone coast to coast, giving neglected courts in Canada some love while simultaneously bringing communities together. Ball Her Way, a long-time partner of the Sun and Truth Foundation, celebrated the opening of the court with a free community event and an all-girls basketball tournament.

Designed by Kenza Dals in collaboration with youth from Côte-des-Neiges, the mural pays tribute to the community’s vibrant young people. The piece celebrates acceptance, equality, and freedom while honouring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

In the days leading up to the grand reveal, the Buckets & Borders and Ball Her Way teams returned to the court each day to paint, even under the intense summer sun. The Foundation was invited to contribute to the painting process and gained a newfound appreciation for the dedication, patience, and care required to bring the project to life.

On August 25, we joined Buckets & Borders, Ball Her Way, sponsors, partners and members of the broader Côte-des-Neiges community for the court’s inauguration and community basketball tournament. The event brought people together through delicious food, music, and friendly competition on the new court, creating a joyful celebration of community and belonging.

The finished court was nothing short of remarkable. Even after participating in the early stages of the painting process, we could not have imagined how beautiful the final result would be. The vibrant colours and powerful imagery transformed the space into something truly special.

As the largest courts serving Montreal’s most populous boroughs, we know this revitalized space will draw people from across the community. We believe that communities are strengthened when people come together, and the inauguration event reflected a sense of unity and camaraderie that the world could use more of today.

We thank Buckets & Borders and Ball Her Way for allowing us to be part of such a meaningful and inspiring initiative. We look forward to continuing to support their work and collaborating on future projects.