Limited Budget Leaves Children's Play Area in Cilincing Neglected

Jakarta – Beneath the constant rumble of heavy vehicles crossing Jembatan Lestari in Cilincing, North Jakarta, the cheerful sounds of children playing on slides can be heard distinctly.

The children are enjoying themselves in the park located directly beneath Jembatan Lestari Cilincing. Several children were happily sliding down a three-metre-high slide in turn, whilst others preferred to play on seesaws and use some of the outdoor fitness equipment beside the slide.

Meanwhile, parents sat on park benches nearby, watching their children play. Located beneath the bridge and surrounded by many tall trees, Taman Lestari often goes unnoticed. However, the park appears quite run-down as many of its facilities are damaged. Iron benches have lost their coating and are corroded by age, plastic slides have holes in their centre patched with tape, outdoor fitness equipment has rusted iron components and very dusty seats, and various other fixtures show signs of deterioration.

One of the main causes is limited budgeting, even though maintenance and revitalisation plans have been submitted long ago. “Maintenance has been proposed before, but it remains pending due to other priorities that must take precedence and budgetary constraints as well,” said Reina when contacted by Kompas.com on Thursday (26 February 2026).

However, Reina assured that Taman Lestari Cilincing is not entirely neglected, as it continues to be maintained and kept clean by officers from PPSU and the Parks Service (Sudin Pertamanan). In fact, various improvement and quality enhancement efforts for this green open space have been undertaken to date.

Yet, the results have not been optimal so far. This is because local residents are unwilling to participate in maintaining the park. Many residents and visitors actually throw rubbish into the park area, causing this green space to remain constantly dirty despite regular cleaning efforts.