Game on: The organizer of the masked ball organized a selection of interactive games for visitors.

A modest masked ball at a city park in Malang, East Java, aims to restore the function of public parks and spaces for children and families.

One afternoon in July, a crowd of children were seen playing happily together at Taman Merbabu, a city park in Malang, East Java, accompanied by a youth music performance.

The park was lively that day; with a variety of balloon arrangements and trees attractively adorned with decorations.

Parents gathered as the children played, donning masks made of recycled cardboard and holding drawing books and white paper sheets.

The festivities were organized by Nandur Dulur (fostering communal relationship), a community group engaged in child and family education at city park areas in Malang.

Set up in 2014 by artists, musicians and students, the organization has no executive board; all members work on a volunteer basis and are mutually responsible for park programs.

Sharing a love of the city parks built by the Malang municipal administration, Nandur Dulur youths aim to restore the function of parks and public spaces, feeling that too many public spaces have begun to serve as places of product promotion.

That afternoon, the community had organized a masked ball for children and parents visiting the park.

Volunteers and visitors wore masks and were encouraged to call each other by the name of the shape of their mask instead of their real names.  

“The cardboard mask is the main theme of the event, to enable visitors and children to learn how to make durable masks and recycle used cardboard obtained from nearby shops or trash cans,” said Nadia, a volunteer.

Nandur Dulur volunteers prepared spare cardboard masks for newcomers and participants who do not yet have a mask of their own.

Apart from the masked ball on another day, the community also organizes a series of activities for families and children at the park; a film screening, storytelling, singing, reading, coloring, balloon decorating and cardboard mask crafting.

“It’s enjoyable to be at a park among people of different professions, sharing our joy with playgroup and kindergarten children and teenagers alike,” said Jayadi, a visitor.

Nandur Dulur  normally organizes to meet with residents at parks around Malang every two weeks, from 08:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“We’ve had to start gathering in the afternoon this month as rain has mostly fallen in the morning,” Lintang explained.

The change in time, however, did not dampen the children’s enthusiasm to attend the mask party that afternoon.

Activities organized by Nandur Dulur are open to everyone. They only have one rule for participants: turn off your gadgets.

With the exception of photographs and video recording, smart phone technology is seen as to have a negative impact on the social interaction of children and family members and the community tries to reduce negative effect through its city park agenda.

The positive response shown by the public has further encouraged Nandur Dulur to nurture patience, appreciation of differences and recreational creativity among children and their parents at public parks.

Through its ongoing activities, Nandur Dulur will continue to try to ensure that public parks are restored as a space for families and children to enjoy.

— Photo by Aman Rochman

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