City to build 70 public parks by end of this year

JAKARTA (JP): The construction of 70 public parks in slum and densely populated areas in the city's five mayoralties will be completed before the end of this year, an official said on Thursday.

Head of the City Parks Agency, Dadang Ruskandar, said land appropriation for the planned parks commenced earlier this year and have, so far, yet to receive rejections from residents.

"We hope that by the end of this year, we can complete the construction of the parks," Dadang told reporters.

He said each of the parks will need a plot of between 250 square meters and 400 square meters.

He estimated that the construction of each park will cost Rp 200 million (US$20,408), including Rp 120 million for land appropriation.

The construction of 70 public parks, worth in total Rp 14 billion (US$1.4 million), will add to the city's green areas which currently cover 177.29 square kilometers or 6.7 percent of the total width of Jakarta.

Jakarta used to be home to 529 parks, but some 270 of them have been converted to other functions such as gas stations, community centers and police posts.

Dadang said his office had returned 11 sites to their original function as public parks last year, and planned to reconvert 14 other plots of land into public parks this year.

"We hope that within the next five years, green areas might reach 13 percent although ideally they should be 25 percent of the total width of the city," he said.

Dadang said that he had invited public and private institutions to participate in designing the parks.

Besides the parks, he said, his office has also invited the public to submit designs for a public clock as part of construction plans for Jl. Satrio in South Jakarta.

The construction of the clock will cost Rp 450 million and can hopefully be completed this year, he said.

He said the winner of the clock design contest will be awarded Rp 5 million, while the five best designs will be awarded Rp 2 million each.

The city currently operates 25 public clocks, including 10 located on streets in Central Jakarta, 10 in South Jakarta, three in West Jakarta, and one clock each in North Jakarta and East Jakarta respectively.

In an effort to beautify the city, the agency has also planned to build 30 aesthetic ornaments, including statues, which will be placed in 30 separate locations, Dadang said.

"The construction of 30 aesthetic ornaments are currently being proposed to the Governor," he said, without giving details on all the designated places.

The aesthetic ornaments will include statues of three National heroes; M.H. Thamrin, Gen. Sudirman and Sisingamangaraja which will be placed on the streets of Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. Sisingamangaraja, both in South Jakarta. (jun)