Businesses sponsor green spaces in Bogor

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

With only Rp 1.1 billion (US$122,223) in its budget for the development of new parks and the renovation of 64 existing parks, the Bogor municipality administration is tapping the business community to make up the shortfall.

The head of the regreening unit at the Bogor Spatial Planning Agency, Wawan Tristiawan, said on Monday the municipality had a total of 11.7 hectares of park area in 64 locations, including the median strips lining the city's roads.

"The budget we allocated for the parks also has to cover the purchase of tools and vehicles for workers. So, it is not enough for the yearlong maintenance of the parks," Wawan said.

"We cannot act alone. We need the support of the whole community, including businesspeople, for this project," he added.

He said his office had received proposals from several businesspeople willing to take over the maintenance of Fountain Park on Jl. Sudirman.

Wawan said state-run telecommunications company PT Telkom managed the median strip along Jl. Padjajaran, while the management of Plaza Ekalokasari helped establish Traffic Park off Jl. Sukasari.

One of the main problems in maintaining the parks, according to Wawan, is vandalism.

"Ideally, there would be no fences around the parks, but we have to fence them in because not everyone in the community is aware of the function of a park. We often find the plants have been stolen or trampled on, and iron fences have also disappeared," he said.