'I prefer a park in the middle of city'

Jakarta, home to around nine million people, has only five large sports stadiums open to the public. The city administration, however, has decided to convert the Menteng soccer stadium into a park that would include cafes and a jogging track. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their thoughts on the plan.

Amalia Wanata, 33, is a clerk at a pharmaceutical company on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta. She lives in the Puri Metro housing estate in Tangerang:

City parks are important because we have so much air pollution. Also, we need green areas to prevent big floods. Parks also balance the hot, humid weather in Jakarta.

However, I do not think people will treat the new park like an outdoor sports center. If I want to have a morning jog, I can just do it at my housing estate where I know is safe.

I would not go all the way to Menteng just to jog in the park.

Even if I had one near my place, I would only go there if the management could ensure that the park was always clean, comfortable, beautifully managed, safe and, of course, free.

I would not allow my son to play at a park that was unsafe, so the management must ensure that the planned park is safe if they want to get people to go to the park.

Yuliana, 25, is unemployed. She lives with her family in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta:

It would be great to have a park in the middle of the city because we do not really have one in Jakarta, do we? I mean, compared to cities in other countries where parks are everywhere, we can say that we have nothing like that here.

It would be suitable for recreational activities, I think.

Personally, I prefer a park to a sports stadium. I do not like outdoor sports because of the heat and dust.

It would be even better if the park was designed exclusively for recreational purposes. It is good to get in touch with nature and get away from the city's noise and pollution.

What would draw me to a park would be the opportunity to have barbecues and picnics with my friends, so I could chat and enjoy the nice view.

Therefore, I do not think street vendors should be allowed if the administration wants to develop a park in Menteng, because I would just want to relax and not be disturbed by vendors.

--The Jakarta Post