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View all search resultsStarting point: A group of boys use the facilities offered at Sungai Bambu Park in North Jakarta
span class="caption">Starting point: A group of boys use the facilities offered at Sungai Bambu Park in North Jakarta. The park, which was declared a child friendly public space, was inaugurated by Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama on May 13. JP/Indra Budiari
Deki Syailendra sat back while keeping his eyes on his twin daughters playing on a seesaw at Sungai Bambu Park in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.
The girls, wearing identical pink dresses and headbands, were enthusiastic as they moved back and forth as well as up and down.
'It's my turn to take my 6-year-old twins to the park, as their mother is at the market,' Deki told The Jakarta Post recently.
Putting his lunch box away in a bag, he said that they had been at the park for an hour.
A few meters away, three boys raced on a bicycle track while two others waited at the finish line.
'No! Don't go there. Follow the signs here,' Putra, 10, shouted from the finish line with his finger pointing a newly painted road sign.
'There weren't any road signs on this track before. My friends were not aware of the new signs,' the boy said.
Sungai Bambu Park, popularly known by locals as Segitiga (triangle) Park due to its shape, was recently declare a child friendly public space by the city administration. Located near a densely populated area, the park has become a popular spot for locals, especially on the weekend.
After undergoing renovations, the park is now equipped with facilities such as a children's restroom, jogging track, playground, bicycle track and integrated public health service post. The bicycle track is outfitted with road signs such as a no U-turn sign, parking sign and stop sign.
Sarah, another park visitor, said she regularly took part in a gymnastics activity held every weekend.
'With the changes to this park, I am sure my little boy won't mind visit this park with me on Sunday morning,' she said.
Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, who inaugurated the 2,713 square-meter park last Wednesday, said he would also provide free Wi-Fi, a breastfeeding corner and library at the park in the near future.
During his speech, Ahok reminded locals to keep the park clean by not littering as trash cans had been placed at almost every corner. He also warned that the park was not a place for couples to do obscene things.
He said his administration not only aimed to provide a pleasant atmosphere at the park but also a decent security system.
'Therefore, we will also install CCTV in this park. Some private companies have offered to help us in this matter,' Ahok said.
Similar facilities have also been developed in Cideng, Central Jakarta and in Gandaria, South Jakarta, which will be officiated in the next two months. The city administration also plans to have 300 child friendly parks by 2017.
'This year, we will open 50 friendly parks. Our target next year is to open 150 more parks,' he said.
The public facilities were constructed and provided by the Jakarta Family Welfare Movement (PKK) Agency, which is chaired by Ahok's wife, Veronica Tan. Veronica said the public facilities were a part of the Jakarta administration's efforts to make Jakarta a child friendly city.
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