Residents observing lighting installations on May 23 at the Jakarta Light Festival 2025 in Lapangan Banteng Park, Jakarta. - Antara
JAKARTA: As the sun sets behind the skyline of South Jakarta, 36-year-old Dewi Rihayaningsih heads to Langsat Park, her quiet refuge after a long day working as a housekeeper at a nearby restaurant. Beneath the rustling trees and the warm glow of park lamps, she finds a moment of calm.
On Saturday (June 21) evening, the night before Jakarta’s 498th birthday, the park buzzed with more life than usual.
Yet for Dewi, it remains what it has quietly become: A resting place, a brief sanctuary between the demands of her two jobs. After her day shift, she spends her nights driving for a ride-hailing app, often working until 3am.
For someone whose day unfolds while most of the city sleeps, the park offers more than just open space. It is where she pauses to catch her breath, listen to music and summon the strength to carry on.
A single mother of three living in Jagakarsa, 15km away, Dewi does not see the park’s 24-hour access as a luxury; to her, it is a lifeline. “I’m glad they won’t send me away anymore if I sit here past midnight,” she said.
Langsat Park, covering 3.6 hectares of greenery, has been under public scrutiny in recent weeks following reports of inappropriate behaviour among some nighttime visitors. But Dewi is undeterred.
“I’ve heard about those things. But I’m not afraid because I’m quite familiar with this place and I know that they have added additional security measures.”
Her story reflects the vision behind Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung’s decision to expand the operating hours of public spaces including parks, libraries and museums.
The initiative aims to create a more inclusive, vibrant city, where economic and cultural life pulse even after dark.
“Extending the operational hours of public spaces is part of our effort to shape Jakarta into a city that thrives around the clock; alive with culture, literature and healthy recreational activities,” said Pramono on Sunday.
To address safety concerns, the Jakarta Parks and Forests Agency has increased surveillance cameras and security posts, as well as improving lighting at key sites, including Langsat Park.
This 24-hour access policy also applies to other South Jakarta parks, such as Ayodia and Martha Tiahahu Literacy Park, and is complemented by round-the-clock transportation services centred around the nearby Blok M terminal.
“As public transit and public spaces become accessible around the clock, I think this area can truly live 24 hours a day,” said 27-year-old Akbar Nurdiansyah from West Jakarta during a visit to Martha Tiahahy Literacy Park on Saturday.
Public enthusiasm extends beyond parks.
In Central Jakarta’s Cikini area, the newly extended hours of the city library have drawn families and late-night learners alike.
Bia, a mother of two from South Jakarta, visited the Cikini Library with her three-year-old daughter for the first time. “This will be my new favourite place to bring my daughter,” Bia said.
Nestled within the Ismail Marzuki Park complex, the library offers more than books: It is a welcoming space with playgrounds, quiet reading areas and spots for families to connect. Mega, a West Jakarta resident, finds comfort in these extended hours.
“Sometimes I’m too tired to go out after work. But not now, with more late-night options to go,” she said.
For Dewi, Bia and many others, these changes are not just about longer hours. They represent opportunity and the simple human need for space. This sense of renewed connection between citizens and their city appears to reflect a wider public sentiment.
A recent survey by Litbang Kompas, conducted from June 10 to 14 across Jakarta, found that 64.5 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of Governor Pramono, with many even saying they were "very satisfied".
While the numbers show broad approval, the survey also revealed a common hope that appreciation will be backed by ongoing, tangible improvements on the ground. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
