Construction of a rubber dam - part of a revitalization project in the Pepe River, a tributary of the Bengawan Solo - is ongoing. Aside from being a flood management, shelter and water treatment site, rubber weirs are being built.

"Our target is for this Tirtonadi Dam tourist area to open in February. Now, we are preparing complementary facilities, such as motorboats and fountains," Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi "Rudy" Rudyanto said on Monday. 

Rudy added that construction at the dam had reached 95 percent. The tourist destination features a garden with a glass bridge that looks similar to the Bridge of Peace in Georgia. If the weather is sunny, Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu are visible from the bridge.

Tirtonadi Dam in Surakarta, Central Java, features a unique bridge. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

On the right and left sides of the river are pedestrian paths and a park equipped with chairs to relax while enjoying the sunset. More than just a recreation area, Tirtonadi Dam also offers educational river tours through the Tirta Kawruh Board (River Gallery Board).

"From the gallery, visitors can learn about the history of rivers in Surakarta, including their functions and how to maintain them. One of these river galleries serves as a river school that campaigns for clean rivers, for not throwing garbage into the rivers," Surakarta Tourism Agency head Hasta Gunawan said. 

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Before its  revitalization, the width of the Pepe River, which flows from Boyolali regency, was only 20 meters. Now, it spans 60 meters.

The dam can accommodate up to 1 million cubic meters of water at 1,000 cubic meters per second, far more than the previous 300 cubic meters per second. The project began in 2015 using state budget (APBN) funds amounting to Rp 173 billion (US$11.95 million).

Tirtonadi Dam is a new tourist destination in the city of Surakarta. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

Although it will be inaugurated in February, the public have already begun to enjoy Tirtonadi Dam, especially during sunny weather. In the afternoon, residents visit to enjoy the beautiful landscape while, in the morning, they can be seen walking or jogging along a road that hugs the river.

"This area is amazing. Beginning as a slum, it is now clean. The garden is interesting, you can take your family to relax here," said Bambang Wijarko, 44, a local resident. 

Another resident, Rahayu Wulandari, 22, expressed admiration for the revitalization of the Pepe River. She said Tirtonadi Dam as a destination was not inferior to the Cheonggyecheon in Seoul.

"[I am] proud of Surakarta for having water tourism like this. It's not inferior to Korea," Rahayu said. 

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Soloraya Accessible Tourism, Dwi Aryani, said he hoped the Surakarta government would consider making the area accessible for the disabled.

He said the area needed to be equipped with ramp facilities for wheelchair users and tactile paving.

"If you want to seriously make this area a tourist spot, it must be enjoyed by all people, including those with disabilities," Dwi said. (liz/kes)