Jakarta Administration to Build 56 Child-Friendly Public Areas

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta administration plans to construct 56 childr-friendly public spaces (RPTRA) throughout 2015. 

"These RTPRAs will be designed to be centers for communal and creative gatherings," said Jakarta Governor Basuki '"Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama at the City Hall, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. Ahok hoped that the child-friendly spaces could also serve as places where local communities could gather to discuss and solve local issues. 

"We want to make these spaces as integrated as possible. As such, local authorities should also be involved in such discussions and other community activities," said Ahok, adding that the existence of such spaces could also help local authorities monitor and observe any issues that may affect the community as a whole. 

"At present, it is very difficult to observe and monitor the activities of residents as we would have to pay a visit to each and every household. Once a community unit is formed, it would be easier to notice any illegal activities in a particular community," said Ahok. 

"We plan to construct 150 more in 2016, and 100 more in 2017," said Ahok, adding that six of the spaces planned for 2015 will be at Sungai Bambu in North Jakarta, South Gandaria in South Jakarta, Cideng in Central Jakarta, Cililitan in East Jakarta, Kembangan in West Jakarta, and on Untung Jawa Island in the Thousand Islands regency. 

ANTARA