Jokowi Asks Parks in the City to Be Multi-Function

Jakarta Governor, Joko Widodo, said besides beautifying city, the existence of parks in the capital city should be multi-function for residents, either utilize trees` wood  or fruits. Besides that, the city parks can be used to muffle pollution and watersheds.

The park is not only the beauty of the grass, it could be used as medicine

From the City Parks and Cemeteries Department data, the number of parks in Jakarta reached 1,178 parks. The number is quite many; however, the condition has not yet managed to make Jakarta greener and more beautiful. The city park should be an alternative as a public space as well as a media for socializing. Even the parks in the world major cities functions as centers of social activity and cultural community.

Jokowi's desire was delivered to the Leaders Meeting (Rapim) held at City Hall, Monday (5/26). The meeting discussed a number of issues including replanting of herbal plants or medicinal plants (toga) in the villages or in the city environment.

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On the other hand, Jakarta Vice Governor, Basuki T Purnama, stated that besides enhancing the grass, the garden can be used for herb tree planting. "The park is not only the beauty of the grass, it could be used as medicine. What is more interesting about the concept, the money is not from us but from the private sector and they want to maintain the continuity," stated Basuki.

To realize the park that has efficacious herbs for medicine, Basuki plans to purchase residents' lands to be used as herbal medicine parks. "It depends on what local people are doing from the PKK to use the Toga well. But we have no land, so we'll buy land. Since there is no land in slums, so if there are people who want to sell their land we will broke it down. Besides there are parks, there are also play areas," he said.

In fact, according to Basuki, Jokowi asked for land acquisition for the park construction to be accelerated because the open space provision is to resolve social conflicts in society. Therefore, the existence of the park is believed to be capable of reducing conflict since people prefer to exercise rather than to make conflict.

Basuki added that the city government also attempted the parks or open spaces not to be misdirected or misused as a car or motorcycle parking areas.

Just to be noted, the city government will provide parks in all neighborhoods(RW) in five regions of the capital city. To realize the park program, the city government allocated a budget of around Rp 3 trillion.