New fun park in Senayan to open its doors in June

New fun park in Senayan to open its doors in June

JAKARTA (JP): A new international-standard recreation center
will launch itself with a month-long trial offer in June.

The center near the Senayan national stadium and state-run
TVRI television station, cost US$50 million.

PT Ariobimo Laguna Perkasa (ALP) built and renovated the 11-
hectare park, formerly known as Taman Ria Remaja, and transformed
it into a recreation and entertainment center with a retail
complex and a 6-hectare lake.

"More than 2.5 million people are expected to visit each year,
that is 6,000 people a day. The entrance ticket will cost around
Rp 3,000 ($1.23) and the center will operate seven days a week,"
said Sharif Sutardjo, owner of Ariobimo Group, ALP's mother
company.

"Taman Ria Senayan will try to offer a quality of service
equivalent to a five-star hotel," he said.

Built in 1970, Taman Ria Remaja was owned by Ria Pembangunan
Foundation, a non-profit organization run by the wives of Armed
Forces members.

For the last 25 years, the park has been visited only by
couples. It was mostly abandoned by public due to the gradual
development of malls and other recreation centers in the city.

"We agreed to assign ALP to renovate and manage the park,"
said the foundation's head Mrs. Ali Moertopo.

"We want the park to have a captivating new image and we will
use the income to support social programs."

The park will have entertainment facilities such as
laservision shows, a roller coaster, telecombat, a ferris wheel,
electronic games, family areas and Indonesian restaurant.

Seventy percent of the 60 units for retail outlets or
restaurants have already been let, Sharif said.

Tenants include TGI Friday's, Front Row, Italianni's, Planet
Kids, Hollywood Athletic Club and party accessories.

The retail area is in a 12,000-square-meter, four-story
building. It is designed as an open atrium with trees around its
walkways.

"We are optimistic about the future of Taman Ria Senayan,"
Sharif said.

"Our cooperation agreement with Ria Pembangunan was made under
the Build, Operate and Transfer concept, for 30 years, and we
expect to reach break even in seven years."

The developer has built public toilets and parking areas to
cater for the expected crowds.

"We are building big parking lots on both sides of the center,
each big enough for 600 vehicles," he said.

ALP will build a bridge to the Jakarta Convention Center's
parking lot which holds between 1,000 and 2,000 vehicles. (10)