Three floodlights to improve lighting at Cawang City Forest Park, East Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The East Jakarta City Government added three floodlights to improve lighting in the Hutan Kota Cawang area located on Jalan DI Panjaitan, Kebon Pala Village, Makasar Sub-district. ‘The addition of lighting is carried out by installing three floodlights to enhance visibility and safety in the area at night,’ said Yanuar Ikhsan, Head of Section for Infrastructure, Facilities, Utilities of the City Road Agency of East Jakarta, in Jakarta, on Thursday. Yanuar said the floodlights were installed to provide more maximal lighting in the city park area which previously was considered to have minimal lighting. The three floodlights installed consist of two units with 240 watts each and one unit with 120 watts. ‘So that it is brighter and can prevent negative behavior at night. After the trees are trimmed, the lighting will also be more optimal,’ he said. According to him, with the additional floodlights, the Hutan Kota Cawang area is now brighter, providing a sense of safety for people passing by or engaging in activities around the location. In addition to installing lights, lighting optimisation is supported by tree trimming activities carried out by the Parks and City Forest Sub-Agency of East Jakarta. The trimming is undertaken so that the light from the floodlights is not blocked by dense trees. ‘This trimming is not only to anticipate the potential of falling trees, but also so that the floodlight lighting can reach all areas maximally,’ he said. He added the trimming process has been conducted from 27 February to 1 March 2026 with the involvement of 14 Green Force personnel. In the activity, officers also deployed one ladder truck and one open-back truck to support trimming and transportation of trimming results. With the addition of floodlights and the arrangement of trees, it is hoped the Hutan Kota Cawang area would be brighter, safer and more comfortable for the community, especially at night. Although the usage context has not yet been confirmed, the findings strengthen allegations of activities that do not conform to the function of public spaces. Eventually, the East Jakarta City Government permanently closed two access points to the Hutan Kota Cawang park area due to suspected same-sex prostitution activities at night. Viral on Instagram @ijoel showing a group of young men entering the city park in the Cawang area via the edge of the fence. ‘In the park here it often becomes a meeting place for guys, I don’t know what they indicate, every night after 01.00 WIB, they keep gathering and go into the park to do whatever until 02.00 in the morning,’ said a person who took the video at the location, as quoted by Instagram @ijoel.