BEIRUT: With hundreds of amateurs converging on the playgrounds of Beirut, one could probably boast that Beirut is the Arab world’s capital of street basketball and mini-football.

However, has anyone ever asked why the Lebanese always have to pay to use playgrounds? Or why is it nearly impossible to find public playgrounds in the cities of Lebanon? Public playgrounds are common the world over, providing youths a chance to have fun, as well as an opportunity to improve their skills after school.

They are also a safe environment for amateurs to play off the streets during weekends. Such venues also provide an opportunity for families from different social segments to meet while keeping an eye on their kids.

Many of today’s star players, most notably NBA legend Michael Jordan, started chasing their dreams on a community basketball court before they had the chance to move their game to the next level. Closer to home, Lebanon’s basketball legend Fadi al-Khatib once said in an interview that he used to skip school to practice in outdoor playgrounds.

The past few years have witnessed a growing trend of building commercial playgrounds, particularly in Beirut. These courts managed to attract young athletes from all corners of the city. Most courts usually charge around LL45,000 for 90 minutes, while a full court would cost LL90,000 in some cases, whereas a football pitch costs between LL120,000 and LL150,000.

Sadly, with Lebanon’s current economic woes, a large number of people find these prices too expensive.

“I play with a couple of friends here in a court in Amchit and when it’s not available we play in Mocean in Jounieh,” said Charbel Matta.

“It used to be free at first, but when the stadium [Amchit] was covered, they introduced a charge,” said Matta. “When you are with a group, it’s not a problem, because each one pays $3, but as a basketball player I find it extremely hard to come every day and exercise alone because of the cost.”

However, in recent years, local municipalities have started to build public playgrounds, but these are often lacking in equipment and even the simplest of logistics. One place in Sin al-Fil has free basketball courts and football pitches next to each other, but the ground was laid with concrete, which presents a risk in terms of injuries.

Playing on concrete or asphalt for extended periods of time can have a degenerative effect on the limbs of up and coming players, particularly with knee joints, as well as the risk of cuts and bruises.

“We have built some playgrounds in Beirut, in Ashrafieh and Qasqas, and they are both free,” said a member of Beirut’s municipality who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“However, the challenge of building big playgrounds is hard to accomplish in Lebanon, especially in the city because of urban density. When you put together such a plan, you have to consider that there are people who come by car so you need to provide parking space, this represents one of many obstacles,” he said.

With recent talk of targets set by Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami to raise the ministry’s budget from $1.5 million to around $7 million, hopes for new playgrounds across the city have been raised.

Director-General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Zeid Khyami said: “We have set in motion a big project, to build playgrounds in 50 regions over the next 10 years. However, we are seeking to enhance the budget to finish it in five years instead.”

“Public playgrounds are vital to build a safe atmosphere for youngsters and have a positive impact on sports in general, so the government must take care of these projects,” said Khyami.