Surabaya (ANTARA) - Green rice fields, trees shading the land and the\nfading light of dusk create an atmosphere rarely found amid urban\nlife.<\/p>\n
The scene can be enjoyed at Hutan Kota Jeruk in Lakarsantri\nsubdistrict, Surabaya, an open space that brings a rural feel together\nwith the pulse of the city.<\/p>\n
As the lights come on, the area offers more than simply a chance to\nenjoy the view: it also provides an opportunity to learn about the\nrelationship between people and nature.<\/p>\n
The Surabaya City Government is showcasing this potential once again\nthrough Garden Fest, held on 17\u201318 October 2026. The event combines a\ngarden-party atmosphere with agricultural education, sport and the\ninvolvement of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), while\nalso serving as a trial of extended opening hours into the evening.<\/p>\n
The initiative creates new possibilities for green open spaces to\ndevelop as places for recreation and learning, as well as drivers of the\nlocal economy.<\/p>\n
The success of Hutan Kota Jeruk should not be measured solely by\nvisitor numbers or the appeal of its evening atmosphere. The more\nimportant challenge is to ensure the area develops without losing its\necological functions, agricultural value and social benefits.<\/p>\n
Good tourism does more than attract people: it also builds knowledge,\nprotects the environment and delivers economic benefits fairly to the\nsurrounding community.<\/p>\n
A public asset<\/strong><\/p>\n Hutan Kota Jeruk is important to Surabaya\u2019s development because green\nopen spaces are increasingly needed amid rapid urban growth.<\/p>\n The area is not merely a place for recreation; it is also part of the\nenvironmental infrastructure that supports residents\u2019 quality of\nlife.<\/p>\n On 8 September 2026, the Surabaya City Government and the East Java\nHigh Prosecutor\u2019s Office successfully recovered 96,932 square metres of\nland in Jeruk urban village, Lakarsantri subdistrict, valued at around\nRp124.07 billion.<\/p>\n The land includes Taman Hutan Raya Jeruk, a community health centre\nand a reservoir. The recovery gives the government legal certainty to\nmanage the assets in the public interest.<\/p>\n Certainty of ownership must be matched by certainty of public\nbenefit. Development of the area should prioritise environmental\nprotection, sustainable agriculture, visitor services and residents\u2019\nwelfare.<\/p>\n Trees, rice fields and water-absorption land have ecological value\nthat cannot always be measured in economic returns.<\/p>\n The development plan should align with Surabaya City Regional\nRegulation No.\u00a01 of 2026 on the 2025\u20132055 Environmental Protection and\nManagement Plan. Accordingly, planning for Hutan Kota Jeruk should not\nfocus solely on adding tourist facilities.<\/p>\n The government needs to maintain the productivity of the rice fields,\npreserve the land\u2019s water-absorption function and limit construction so\nit does not damage the environmental balance. This will allow the public\nasset to develop productively without losing its ecological and social\nbenefits.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rice-fields-are-more-than-a-tourist-backdrop-1792295446",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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