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)