Monas park sees drop in attendance<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Monument (Monas) park, now encircled with a high
\niron fence that cost Rp 8.7 billion, failed to bring in the same
\nnumber of visitors in the first weekend since it reopened.<\/p>\n
\"The number of visitors to the park has decreased compared to
\nthe time before the construction of the fence,\" said Parlan, a
\npark employee.<\/p>\n
Attendance records show that there were more than 2,000
\nvisitors this weekend, which is far below the numbers set in
\nprevious months.<\/p>\n
\"There were 3,825 visitors on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22, for
\nexample,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Parlan said that the decrease was probably because many
\nresidents had not realized that the park had been reopened to the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
The fence project, which started in July, required the park to
\nclose in order to finish the work from Dec. 10 until Dec. 16,
\nwhen it was reopened by Governor Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
The project drew harsh criticism from experts and urban
\nactivists slammed the decision to evict most of the 2,000 street
\nvendors from the park.<\/p>\n
There are now four controlled gates to enter the park while
\n647 street vendors have relocated to the parking lot.<\/p>\n
Some visitors have complained that they had to walk quite far
\nbefore they could buy some refreshments, but others have welcomed
\nthe park's new look, saying that it restored it as a recreational
\nsite instead of a haven for street vendors.<\/p>\n
\"We can really enjoy the park. My children can run freely here
\nnot like in our house,\" said Marsudi of Rawa Belong, West
\nJakarta, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"It was a real hassle bringing our three children here as they
\ncould easily get lost in the crowd with all the street vendors
\naround.\"<\/p>\n
Abdul Rohim of Petamburan, West Jakarta, also enjoyed the
\nspaciousness of the park.<\/p>\n
\"Look around you. It is so quiet here now and we can enjoy the
\natmosphere.\"<\/p>\n
However, both Marsudi and Abdul Rohim said that it would be
\nbetter if there was no fence, but that its presence ensured the
\npark's security.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, you hardly notice the fence once you are in the
\npark, so I don't think it is something unpleasant,\" said Marsudi,
\nwho was with his wife and three children.<\/p>\n
Children were seen running in the park while their parents
\nwatched. Several families were having lunch under the trees.<\/p>\n
Even though the number of visitors has dropped, delman (horse
\ncarriage) drivers have found that their earnings have increased
\nas the city administration has limited the number of horse
\ncarriages operating in the park.<\/p>\n
\"I usually made Rp 100,000 on weekends, but now I can make
\ntwice as much. We can move freely without the vendors around,\"
\nAang, a delman driver, said.<\/p>\n
\"It was worse on weekdays when I got next to nothing, however
\nI am bringing home some Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000.\"<\/p>\n
The drivers charge Rp 10,000 for a trip around the park and Rp
\n5,000 for a trip from the entrance gates to the monument.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, photographer Petrus Sitepu said the absence of
\nvendors made it easier for photographers to take better pictures.<\/p>\n
\"The vendors presented a problem for visitors who wanted their
\npictures with Monas in the background,\" said Sitepu, who has been
\nworking there for 25 years.<\/p>\n
There may be a new park attraction in the near future as
\nGovernor Sutiyoso has announced that he would bring in spotted
\ndeer (Axis axis) from the Bogor Palace in Bogor.<\/p>\n
However, experts have warned that having deer at the park
\ncould be a blunder unless additional facilities, such as pools,
\nshady trees and bushes, are developed to prevent the animals from
\nsuffering from undue stress.<\/p>\n
Park visitors may have to wait at least six months before they
\nwill see any deer as a team is conducting a study on the
\nfeasibility of having the animals at the park.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/monas-park-sees-drop-in-attendance-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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