Parks: finding free space in the city

Parks: finding free space in the city

Christine Foster, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali

Healthy and well-used public parks, unlike cars, computers and
competition, are curiously lacking from the Indonesian modern
lifestyle. Rather, the ethic of privatization has overshadowed
any sense of or consideration for abundant public space. This is
unfortunate, as parks are an antidote to the confinement of city
life, a remedy to the over-abundance of concrete modernity.

In Indonesia, there are currently two types of parks: those
found in remote forested areas (part of the National Park system)
and those found in cities. Further back in history is the notion
of alun-alun, space provided by kings for people to air their
grievances, but it was also a place where the king could act in
kind, by publicly punishing wrong-doers.

City parks (where they exist) were almost exclusively created
by the New Order regime. These urban "public spaces" are usually
graced with a monument and host the occasional state celebration.
They are generally panoptic in character: everyone can see
everyone else, and there is the feeling that someone else is
watching the watchers. These spaces, and the history they
represent, are not dedicated to spontaneous recreation and
relaxation; they act as reminders of the power and discipline of
the state.

Even though the few public spaces in urban Indonesia are
increasingly used for sporting activities since the end of the
New Order, rarely are people to relax in them, except perhaps on
the periphery where a food vendor (and seating) is often found.

Take for example, Renon Field, site of the Bajra Sandhi
monument in Denpasar. In the early evenings, the field is full of
people jogging, playing soccer or practicing various martial
arts. It is a place for vigorous activity, as though there must
be an excuse to be there.

Seldom do parents go there with their children, because the
space has not been designed to accommodate them. There are few
places to sit; any public facilities on offer are dirty, and in
the middle of the day, it remains in quiet juxtaposition to the
busy streets. A few trees provide shade, but these are vulnerable
to wall-building, or worse, landscaping.

It must be kept in mind, however, that using a park for
recreation and relaxation is, like democracy, a relatively new
concept in this country. Also, like democracy, parks may not
appear to be immediately socially or culturally relevant. Before
the birth of urban sprawl and "modernity", urban Indonesians
lived life at a slower pace. There was no need for a specific
place to relax, as warung, crossroads with food stalls or even
large trees invited a spontaneous break from daily activities.
While this lifestyle might still exist in rural areas, it is
quickly disappearing from the urban landscape.

Meanwhile, the frantic pace of development has rendered most
cities overcrowded and increasingly "unlivable". Along with the
drastic social and economic changes, which have ushered in new
ways of expressing Indonesian culture, there is a need to examine
new ways of providing a better "quality of life" for urban
residents. People who live in over-populated cities deserve a
"livable" environment, and part of this lies in the provision of
healthy public parks.

The existing alternative for leisure and recreation is not
actually "public", rather it is "private". Shopping malls are now
a source of "entertainment" evidenced by the crowds found there
on any given day. In keeping with the "Asian modern lifestyle",
people have learned to define consumption as leisure, or even
freedom of choice.

The problem with this is simply that it requires a degree of
financial success to enjoy this kind of recreation and
relaxation. It creates pressure to compete and ultimately
confusion about the meaning of freedom of choice. Those who don't
have the money, or the inclination to shop are left with nowhere
to go.

Well-used parks are integral to civic pride. The word "civic"
derives from the Latin civitas, meaning "of the city". The first
documented park was created by Caesar in Rome, who converted his
private gardens into a pubic space available for the common
people to unwind from the stress of city life.

In later centuries, rulers in other countries followed suit by
creating public spaces for the enjoyment of ordinary folks. It
was considered a noble gesture of an enlightened leader to ensure
that residents of a city had access to public space.

Parks became places for public expression without fear of
retribution. People flocked to their parks, and civic pride led
to new ideas about democracy, which further stimulated public
understanding of freedom and social well-being.

Planning for parks in an already crowded city is possible. In
Kuala Lumpur, officials recently established a 20 hectare park in
the middle of the city, complete with playgrounds for children. A
businessman who owned the land had wanted to build yet another
shopping complex. The city officials decided that they would
issue the necessary permits contingent upon the businessman using
part of the space as a park for residents of the city. The
officials acted responsibly by providing recreational space for
everyone in Kuala Lumpur to enjoy while simultaneously creating
hundreds, if not thousands, of new employment opportunities.

As Indonesia's cities continue to grow to the point of being
unlivable, the need to create ample public space is more urgent.
The establishment of city park systems throughout the country
would remedy the lack of space in the urban environment. The
government should be generous in using its own land to provide
public space for its citizens.

Businesses should also consider how they can contribute to
this aspect of public welfare. Parks serve as a reminder that we
are not separate from nature. They provide us with oxygen, shade,
a space in which to breathe freely. They ultimately make cities
more livable and people-oriented. Well-designed parks will also
help instill civic pride in a country that is battling serious
self-image problems. Planning for parks should begin today,
before it is too late.

- The writer is postgraduate student in sustainable
development at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.