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Many parks in Jakarta appear green and neatly arranged. However, observers note that most of these parks still emphasize the city’s aesthetic function rather than serving as active public spaces for residents.
Urban planning observer M. Aziz Muslim emphasized that the existence of city parks should first be understood from their fundamental urgency.
According to him, parks and green open spaces (RTH) are not merely visual complements to the city, but vital elements for environmental sustainability.
“Essentially, green open spaces are needed for environmental sustainability. With parks and green open spaces, they can produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and maintain groundwater availability,” Aziz said when contacted by Kompas.com on Wednesday (21/1/2026).
He explained that green open spaces play an important role in maintaining the water cycle in urban areas. Without adequate infiltration areas, rainwater is difficult to absorb properly and can potentially worsen flooding problems.
“When there are green open spaces, groundwater can be stored and absorbed properly. On the other hand, parks also help reduce urban temperatures caused by global warming,” Aziz said.
In addition to their ecological function, city parks also make a significant contribution to the quality of life of urban communities. Aziz believes that parks should serve as spaces for meeting, socializing, and expressing artistic and cultural activities.
“The presence of parks also contributes to the quality of urban life. They become places to gather, socialize, and express various artistic and cultural activities. This is important, especially in densely populated urban areas,” he said.
However, in practice, this social function has not been fully realized in Jakarta. Aziz observed that many parks in Jakarta emphasize aesthetic aspects more than their function as active public spaces.
“If you ask whether Jakarta’s parks function as public spaces or merely as aesthetics, the current position is more as aesthetics than as active public spaces,” he said.
Distribution and Accessibility Issues
Aziz also highlighted the issue of the distribution of green open spaces in Jakarta, which is not proportional to population density.
He reminded that the Spatial Planning Law mandates the provision of green open space amounting to 30 percent of a city’s total area.
“To my knowledge, Jakarta currently has less than 15 percent green open space, and some even say less than 10 percent. This is clearly still very insufficient,” Aziz said.
According to him, this limitation is influenced by inconsistent urban spatial planning, weak supervision, and high land prices due to dense development.
These conditions make the development of new green open spaces costly. Not only the quantity, but also the location of parks is an issue.
“Many parks are located in less strategic areas and are not easily accessible to the public. Whereas public spaces must be easily accessible,” Aziz said.
Challenges and the Key to Management
According to Aziz, the biggest challenge in managing parks is maintaining cleanliness, safety, and comfort on a sustainable basis.
He emphasized the importance of involving local residents in park management.
“There must be a sense of ownership. The community should not only be users, but also guardians,” Aziz said.
With public participation, it is hoped that parks will not only be physically well maintained, but also become lively, safe, and inclusive public spaces.
Aziz cited global cities such as Singapore and London, which have successfully integrated parks with the social needs of their residents.
“Gardens by the Bay or Victoria Park are not only beautiful, but also vibrant as public spaces,” he said.
Menteng Park: Comfortable, but Lacking Weather Protection
In Kompas.com’s observations, Menteng Park in Central Jakarta appears to be one of the parks most actively used by residents.
Despite the rain, some visitors were still seen leisurely walking along the pedestrian paths. One of them was Lula (29), an office worker whose workplace is in the Menteng area.
She admitted that she often stops by the park after work. “Almost every time I get home from work I come here, whether it’s just for a short walk or to sit for a while to unwind,” Lula said when met by Kompas.com on Wednesday.
According to her, the park’s cleanliness is relatively well maintained. Trash bins are available at many points, lighting is adequate, and children’s play facilities such as slides are a particular attraction.
However, Lula felt that the park is not yet fully weather friendly. “After it rains, the paths are a bit slippery. You have to walk slowly, especially if you’re wearing office shoes,” she said.
In addition, she also highlighted the lack of covered seating areas.
“Most of the park benches are open. If there were canopies or sheltered seating, it would definitely be more comfortable,” she said.
Suropati Park: Green, but Quiet
In contrast to Menteng Park, the atmosphere at Suropati Park in Central Jakarta tends to be quieter. The large trees do give a lush impression, but visitor activity is relatively limited.
Dimas (27), a resident who regularly jogs in the park, feels that Suropati Park functions more as an environmental buffer green space than as a family recreational area.
“For light exercise it’s still okay. But for relaxing for a long time or gathering with family, it seems lacking,” Dimas said when met by Kompas.com on Wednesday.
He pointed out the lack of sheltered areas despite the availability of many park benches.
“There are many benches, but no shade. When it’s hot or raining, it’s hard to stay for long,” Dimas said.
Another issue is access and parking. According to Dimas, the absence of parking areas close to the park discourages visitors from outside the neighborhood.
“There’s no nearby parking. The location is also close to a traffic light, so people are reluctant to stop by,” Dimas said.
Lapangan Banteng and the Pulse of the Small Economy
Meanwhile, Lapangan Banteng in Central Jakarta continues to present a grand impression with the West Irian Liberation Monument as its backdrop.
Wide jogging tracks, neatly trimmed grass, and no-smoking signs are installed in various corners.
In this area, Samsul (45), a beverage vendor who has been selling around Lapangan Banteng for several years, described the condition of visitor activity.
“In the afternoon until night it’s usually crowded. Many people exercise or take leisurely walks. But when it rains, it becomes quiet immediately,” Samsul said.
He acknowledged that regulations on vending at Lapangan Banteng are quite strict. Vendors are not allowed to enter the core area of the park.
“We sell only at the edges, near the entrances,” he said.
Even so, Samsul understands the policy in order to maintain cleanliness and tidiness.
“If the park is lively and orderly, small vendors also get a share of the livelihood,” he said.
Meanwhile, Geni (30), a resident who frequently visits Lapangan Banteng, especially in the afternoon and evening, believes that the park’s atmosphere is strongly influenced by the presence of public activities.
Geni, who works in the Sawah Besar area of Central Jakarta, explained that Lapangan Banteng feels more vibrant when there are events or activities held in the park area.
“When there’s an event or activity, it’s definitely crowded, especially at night,” Geni said.
Various activities such as light festivals, art performances, and the peak celebrations of the city’s anniversary have been held at Lapangan Banteng and attracted visitors from various backgrounds.
According to Geni, despite having many facilities, Lapangan Banteng sometimes feels less lively, especially on weekdays or when the weather is unfavorable.
“Sometimes I see people exercising or sitting casually with their families, but when I come on a weekday afternoon like this, it’s rather quiet. It seems that besides sports, there aren’t many spaces that invite people to hang out for a long time,” Geni said.
She sees great potential for Lapangan Banteng to become a more vibrant public space if community activities, art events, or residents’ activities could be scheduled regularly and promoted more effectively.
“This park is large and has many facilities, so it really has strong potential to be developed as a place for more regular public activities,” Geni said.
From Geni’s observations, Lapangan Banteng does indeed function as a multifunctional green open space that not only provides fresh air and green landscapes, but also serves as a meeting point for residents to engage in activities, socialize, and enjoy the city.
