'Don't convert Menteng stadium into park'<\/p>\n
The city administration has decided to convert the Menteng Soccer
\nField into a city park that would also include cafes and jogging
\ntracks. The move, however, has drawn opposition from noted public
\nfigures and scholars who believe that the stadium should be
\npreserved for its historic value. The Jakarta Post interviewed
\nresidents to get their comments on the proposal.<\/p>\n
Choki, 32, is an insurance company employee in Central
\nJakarta. He lives with his wife and children in Petamburan, also
\nin Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
I have a son and I want him to grow healthy and fit. I think
\nit would be great for him to play and exercise in a big sports
\ncenter, like the Menteng soccer field. Such a stadium will
\nencourage him to do more sporting activity.<\/p>\n
I am afraid that if we just let the administration turn the
\nMenteng field into a park or business center, they will do the
\nsame with other centers in other parts of the city. They think
\nthat they can just do whatever they want without any resistance.<\/p>\n
We must fight hard before they change the center. It will set
\nan example for the next time that they want to turn a sports
\ncenter into a park, mall, or office building, and let them know
\nthey will face a tough battle.<\/p>\n
Dian, 34, is an employee of a property agency in South
\nJakarta. She lives with her husband and daughter in Cijantung,
\nEast Jakarta.<\/p>\n
I am suspicious about the motives of the city administration's
\ndecision to turn the Menteng stadium into a park. I don't think
\nthey have sincere intentions to turn the sport center into a
\npark.<\/p>\n
I think they just want to fool us, because why all of a sudden
\ndo they want to do this? There is nothing wrong with the
\nenvironment in Menteng. I see that the area is green.<\/p>\n
The real purpose, I think, is to turn it into an office
\ncompound or mall to get more benefit, but to avoid public
\nresistance they keep saying that it's for a park.<\/p>\n
Moreover, where else could they get free land that could be
\nturned into a business center? Imagine, how much is the price of
\nland in Menteng? It is a huge project for officials at the
\nadministration with huge amounts of cash already in their faces.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dont-convert-menteng-stadium-into-park-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }