Abuse of green open space in Jakarta must not be repeated

Managing and maintaining the safety of green open spaces is an important part that must be fought for in urban planning.

KOMPAS/ATIEK ISHLAHIYAH AL HAMASY

Current conditions of the Tubagus Angke green open space (RTH) in West Jakarta on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

There is a difference in the atmosphere of the Tubagus Angke green open space in West Jakarta after allegations of prostitution emerged at the location at the end of last month. When visited on Tuesday (7/5/2024) afternoon, many of the lush trees in the green space located on the side of Pangeran Tubagus Angke Street had already been cut down. Only a few medium-sized trees remained standing firmly.

Remnants of tree pruning are still scattered in the corners of green open spaces (RTH). Meanwhile, on the roadside, many riders or motorcycle taxi drivers stop for a break. Drink and food vendors also still trade their goods on the road.

A trader in the area, Didit (40), said that the trees in Tubagus Angke green open space have been trimmed since a few days ago. However, he regretted this trimming because the green open space area became barren and hot, no longer shady like before.

"If it's like this, then it's not an urban forest anymore. Only the grass is green. The person who misuses the urban forest should be held accountable," he said when approached.

However, according to Didit, the good side is that the lighting of the street lamps is more optimal as it can illuminate up to green areas.

KOMPAS/ATIEK ISHLAHIYAH AL HAMASY

Current conditions of the Tubagus Angke RTH in West Jakarta on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

Didit has been trading on the RTH sidewalk for three years now. He sees that the area is often misused by certain parties, especially at night.

"Usually at night they lay out mats in a corner of the public park. Large trees cover their activities, making them unseen from the street," he said.

However, the Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) is not routinely stationed in the green areas for law enforcement. Meanwhile, local residents are afraid to report it because it is suspected that someone is backing prostitution activities there.

Also read: Additional Security Officers Needed to Address RTH Abuse in Jakarta

"If now the public order officers regularly guard until night at certain times. There was a public order officer here earlier today. Later tonight, they will definitely patrol," continued Didit.

Meanwhile, Yadi (41), a local resident, said that since the trees were pruned and ordered, he is no longer worried about prostitution activities in the area. He hopes that green open spaces will no longer be misused, both in West Jakarta and throughout DKI Jakarta.

KOMPAS/ATIEK ISHLAHIYAH AL HAMASY

An online motorcycle taxi driver is resting at RTH Tubagus Angke, West Jakarta, on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

"Officials usually patrol at night around 10 PM. Many officials wander around, so there are no more tents or mat exhibitions here," said Yadi.

According to the Head of the West Jakarta Parks and Forest Department, Romy Sidharta, tree pruning is carried out because the trees have grown tall and thick. Tree pruning is done as part of maintenance and has been carried out gradually since Wednesday (1/5/2024).

If now the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) routinely guards until night at certain times. Earlier this morning, there was a Satpol PP presence here. Later tonight, they will definitely patrol again.

West Jakarta's Parks and Urban Forest Department deployed 21 officers to carry out manual pruning. By pruning, the trees' burden will decrease and the area will become neater and brighter.

Tighten supervision

Since the discovery of scattered contraceptive devices on Thursday (2/5/2024) at the location, the Jakarta Provincial Government Police (Satpol PP DKI Jakarta) has tightened surveillance in the Tubagus Angke Road green open space. Head of Satpol PP DKI Jakarta, Arifin, stated that they have deployed several personnel to monitor the area 24 hours a day.

"We regularly place members to guard there. "Every night, our members patrol there," said Arifin.

They also established three security posts around the public park. The posts are intended to prevent any recurrence of sexual harassment incidents in the park.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

Residents picnic in the National Monument park area, Central Jakarta, on Sunday (23/4/2024).

"We are also coordinating with various parties to arrange the location, such as with the Grogol Petamburan District, Wijaya Kusuma Village, and the West Jakarta City Forestry and Parks Department," said Arifin.

Arifin stated that pruning tree branches and bushes as well as installing additional spotlights were done to make the atmosphere of the green open space brighter. With this, he hopes that residents will not engage in indecent acts in the green open space and can utilize it according to its function as a means of greening and providing the city's lungs.

To tighten supervision, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has also added a jogging track and surveillance cameras (CCTV) in the RTH Jalan Tubagus Angke. With the presence of CCTV, green open spaces will be better monitored by officers. The number of officers handling public infrastructure and facilities (PPSU) at this location, which is usually 10 people, has now also been increased to 30 people.

Also read: Tactics to Achieve 30 Percent of Green Open Space in Jakarta

Meanwhile, the West Jakarta Mayor, Uus Kuswanto, believes that the City Parks and Forest Department should turn the Tugabus Angke Green Open Space into a passive park.

"So it's just a park to walk through. "So, at the very least, there is no space there for hanging out, just for planting," said Uus.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Hangtuah Park, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Tuesday (7/5/2024). The installations in this park are made from recycled used suitcases.

Well maintained

A different scene occurred at Hangtuah Park, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Tuesday (7/5/2024) afternoon. Dozens of members of the green force were relaxing there. The individual service provider (PJLP) of DKI Jakarta City Parks and Forests Agency is currently celebrating halalbihalal.

They sit under a row of shady trees. Some sit cross-legged while chatting, while others enjoy the food available. This park is like an oasis for urban residents to quench their thirst for green open spaces.

However, there is one difference. Aside from being clean and well-maintained, there is a row of installations made from recycled suitcases in this park. There are seating areas, tables, and children's playground equipment, such as swings.

See also: Recycled Materials Beautify Hangtuah Park

This series of installations is part of the Samsonite and Wergud project. Throughout 2023, PJLP collected 2,615 used suitcases for recycling.

The Jakarta City Park and Forest Agency has successfully recycled 760 kilograms of plastic, equivalent to 300 used suitcases. The plastic was molded into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymers measuring 1 meter x 1 meter for installation in Hangtuah Park.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Daytime atmosphere at Hangtuah Park, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Tuesday (7/5/2024).

The above efforts are not only aimed at beautifying the park to make it more attractive. Parks can also be a means of education to reduce plastic waste.

According to a resident of South Jakarta, Tyas Artika (27), the presence of the installation made from used suitcases not only beautifies the park, but also attracts the public's attention, including herself. On the other hand, this park also serves as a symbol of concern for the environment.

"Innovation in the form of activities must also be carried out. Parks have the potential to be a place for fostering creativity. Increase the trend of creative spaces in parks. The community can explore new ideas in parks without damaging or misusing them," said Tyas.

Apart from that, the existence of city parks is very important as a space for learning, playing, exercising and recreation for children. Parks are a necessity for residents amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. However, Tyas believes that parks are often ignored in city planning and receive little attention. Therefore, there are still many parks in Jakarta that are neglected and end up being misused by residents.

"The existence of city parks should not only display their aesthetic elements, but other beneficial functions should also be experienced by residents," he added.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Hangtuah Park, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Tuesday (7/5/2024).

Still a little bit

Based on data from the Jakarta Provincial Government, in 2023, the area of green open space (RTH) in Jakarta is recorded at 33.34 million square meters, which is only 5.2 percent of the total area of DKI Jakarta Province. About 12.69 percent of the total RTH land area in DKI Jakarta is located in the administrative area of ​​Central Jakarta.

Expanding green open spaces in Jakarta is not an easy task. With the continuous increase in population, the need for space for housing and activities also increases, while land is limited. Eventually, the need for space for living and the economy takes priority.

Expand the trend of creative space in the garden. People can explore new ideas in the park without destroying and abusing the park.

Nevertheless, Nirwono Joga, Executive Director of the Urban Study Center, explains that there is still plenty of potential for the development of green open spaces (RTH) in Jakarta, such as green lanes along rivers, railway corridors, and under the extra-high voltage transmission system (SUTET) air ducts. Additionally, there are areas under overpasses or flyovers, river banks, reservoirs or dams, and the restoration of the coastal areas of northern beaches to become coastal forests or mangrove forests.

It would also be better if buildings in Jakarta could strive to have roof gardens and wall gardens (vertical gardens) even though they cannot help absorb water naturally in the surrounding environment.

"If in Sydney, the government temporarily takes over the land, forces it to be greened and turned into public spaces. So, it is not left abandoned. The government develops and turns it into a park so that residents can use it for sports and recreation. Later, if the landowner wants to take back the land for development, they are obliged to reimburse the costs that the government has incurred in terms of the greening," he explained.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

The atmosphere of Ayodya Park, South Jakarta, which is quiet without visitors, Monday (4/1/2020).

The management of green open spaces in Jakarta is deemed to be suboptimal and requires comprehensive improvement. The suggestion is given to the Jakarta provincial government to learn more about the guidelines for managing urban forests in Singapore, Melbourne, and Tokyo.

According to Nirwono, the expensive cost of maintaining green areas is a hindrance for the Jakarta Parks and Forestry Department. Therefore, the maintenance and care are still insufficient.

"The Jakarta provincial government needs to ask for a larger budget to maintain public green spaces. In Jakarta, the cost of maintaining one square meter is only Rp 2,000. In Singapore, the cost of maintaining one square meter can reach Rp 200,000. This means that the cost is multiplied several times, so it's no wonder that the quality of public green spaces is much better," he said.

Human resources are also equally important according to Nirwono. He said that the government needs to consider partnering with the private sector in the development and maintenance of green open spaces in order to lighten the burden of Regional Budget Revenues and Expenditures.

Various efforts need to be made so that there is no more misuse of parks which have become green open spaces in Jakarta.