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hildren snuck into a playground ahead of the launch of a new park in Kayu Putih subdistrict in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, on a cloudy day on Saturday.

They could not wait for the ceremonial opening of the 3.1-square-kilometer park. They had to try all of its exciting new recreational equipment right away, like the merry-go-round, slides and seesaws.

'€œThis is the first park that we'€™ve ever had in our neighborhood,'€ said Masroh, a 30-year-old mother who was watching her 6-year-old daughter play on the slide.

The mother of two said kids in her densely populated neighborhood used to play on the streets or at home. Going to another park, she said, would have been a hassle, since there were none within walking distance.

'€œFrom now on they can freely play and I feel save if they play here,'€ Masroh said.

The park, opened by Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, is named Taman Pintar (Smart Park) and was built by the Jakarta administration, state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and the Dharmaranya Tuju Enam foundation, which is run by 1976 University of Indonesia political science graduates.

Also present at the event was Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama'€™s wife, Veronica Tan, and University of Indonesia (UI) rector Muhammad Anis.

Diana Fawzia, the board of trustees head for Dharmaranya Tuju Enam, said the idea for the park came about in 2010, but it could only be realized this year, after finding an appropriate plot.

'€œWe chose the plot of land because it is in the middle of a densely populated area, which is prone to conflicts and other public order violations,'€ she said, adding that the plot, once used by garbage collectors to store recyclables, had been infamous for drug dealing.

Diana said her organization would manage the park for three years before handing it over to the city.

'€œBesides maintaining the facilities, we will also cooperate with many parties to enliven the park with various activities,'€ she said.

According to Diana, the foundation would cooperate with recycling community Bob Lampions and environmental group Lantan Bentala to hold handicraft training sessions.

'€œWe will also cooperate with the Jakarta Archives and Library Agency to host a mobile library in the park,'€ she said.

As well as serving as a playground, the park is equipped with a 250-meter jogging track, a reflexology path, two gazebos, a multi-function field, a toilet and washbowls.

Diana said her foundation would form a committee to encourage participation of local residents in the park'€™s upkeep.

Djarot said he appreciated help from the foundation and the bank to build the park.

'€œI hope this park can teach various aspects of life, such as recycling and sanitation awareness,'€ he said.