TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta provincial government on Friday (17/3) officially began the renovation of Lapangan Banteng part in Central Jakarta.

Acting Jakarta governor Sumarsono said the provincial government wants to make the 10-hectare park as a sport arena for young people.

“The park should become the government’s first choice to spend their leisure time,” he said.

Sumarsono previously said the fence installation would cost Rp 6.5 billion (US$487,000), while the field makeovers would cost Rp 6.3 billion.

Since 1980, the provincial government has managed Lapangan Banteng as a public park.

The park used to be called Waterlooplein, located in Weltevreden region, Batavia, which was one of the main residential areas of the Dutch people at that time. A VOC officer named Anthony Paviljoen purchased the land in 1632 and named the park Lapangan Paviljoen.

To commemorate the Battle of Waterloo that broke out during the colonial era, the Dutch government built a Lion Statue in 1828. However, when occupying Indonesia, the Japanese destroyed the statue.

Following Indonesia’s independence, the name of the park was changed into Lapangan Banteng because the place used to be a habitat for various wild animals. In 1962, the Irian Barat Pembebasan (independence of West Irian) monument was build by former President Sukarno in the park.

JAKARTA FORESTRY AGENCY | LINDA HAIRANI