People reading at Martha Tiahahu Literacy Park in Blok M, South Jakarta in this undated photo. - Courtesy of Jakarta Tourism Agency
JAKARTA: For regular park-goers like Satria, the Jakarta administration’s decision to open a number of parks 24 hours a day comes as welcome news.
The 22-year-old university student often spends his free time at South Jakarta’s Martha Tiahahu Literary Park, which features amenities such as a library, discussion rooms and coffee shops.
“I think the initiative is beneficial for us, young people, especially those who need free and open spaces at night,” he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday (May 18).
Still, he admitted he would not feel safe visiting at midnight. “That’s rather scary,” he said.
The city administration has officially extended the operating hours of five public parks as part of Governor Pramono Anung’s campaign to expand access to public spaces and stimulate nighttime economic activity in the capital.
The selected parks include Martha Tiahahu, Langsat and Ayodya in South Jakarta, as well as Menteng and Lapangan Banteng in Central Jakarta.
“The 24-hour opening of these five parks is aimed at supporting the role of green public spaces as inclusive areas, all the while preserving their ecological function,” Pramono said during a launch ceremony at Lapangan Banteng on Friday.
On Sunday afternoon, Putri Fikih brought her four-year-old son to Langsat Park, which offers a playground, pond and jogging track, among other facilities. While the 30-year-old appreciated the free and convenient access, she expressed concerns about visiting after dark.
“I know that the park’s open all day, but I’d rather come during the daytime,” she said, citing Jakarta’s high rate of nighttime street crime, including brawls and robberies, known locally as begal.
Experts have also raised concerns over potential safety and social issues.
Andreas Budi Widyanta, a sociologist from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, said that round-the-clock park access must be supported by proper infrastructure and safety protocols.
“Running a park 24 hours a day requires engaging activities and serious investment in security,” Andreas said. Without it, he warned, the parks risk becoming sites for immoral acts or makeshift shelters for the homeless.
Still, he noted a possible silver lining: “This initiative could highlight the homelessness issue in Jakarta and prompt the city to provide better solutions for displaced individuals.”
According to the Jakarta Social Affairs Agency, 1,597 homeless individuals were found in public spaces in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
Addressing the safety concerns, Jakarta Parks and Forests Agency head M. Fajar Sauri said the city is partnering with local communities to host constructive nighttime events and has stepped up surveillance. More security personnel and CCTV cameras have been deployed.
In Langsat Park, for instance, 17 security cameras have been installed.
“So far, there have been no security incidents,” said Eliyanah, a security staff member at the park. While some homeless individuals have used the park as shelter, she added, “We have reported them to the Jakarta Social Affairs Agency.” - The Jakarta Post/ANN
