Experts slam Monas Park fence project<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ten landscaping experts demanded on Monday that the city
\nadministration cancel its Rp 9 billion (almost US$900,000)
\nproject to erect a fence around the National Monument (Monas)
\nPark in Central Jakarta, saying the project would spoil the
\naesthetics of the park and make it less accessible to the public.<\/p>\n
The City Parks Agency, however, has insisted it will go ahead
\nwith the work. Agency head Mauritz Napitupulu said 32 contractors
\nwould participate in an open bid for the project, which would
\nstart in July.<\/p>\n
The bid was announced in the little-known Sentana publication.<\/p>\n
The city administration has been criticized for wasting
\nbillions of rupiah on various projects at Monas Park.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the 10 experts, from private Trisakti University's
\narchitects and landscape department, said that by proposing Monas
\nPark be fenced in, the city administration was showing that it
\nhad poor aesthetic sense.<\/p>\n
\"It would deprive people's right to public space and also
\ndamage the symbolical and historical values of the park,\" the
\ndepartment's chairwoman, Rully B. Budiyanti, said in a hearing
\nwith the council's Commission D for development affairs.<\/p>\n
The administration should encourage public participation in
\nprojects related to public rights, including park management, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She suggested the Rp 9 billion fund allocated for the project
\nbe used to manage vendors in parks and to cover the park's
\noperational costs.<\/p>\n
The commission's chairman, Sayogo Hendrosubroto, said the
\ncouncil had not approved the installation of a fence.<\/p>\n
\"We did not know that the project was a high fence. We were
\njust informed that it would be a border,\" he told reporters after
\nthe hearing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/experts-slam-monas-park-fence-project-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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