Indonesia
The Charm of Suropati Park Menteng
One of the alternative places to visit is Suropati Park. It is located on Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng, Central Jakarta.
Suropati Park is a cheap quality site to visit. In weekends, the vicinity turns into a family vacation site. There’s no charge to enter the park that was built during occupation era. Not only featuring shady view from trees and plants around, there are six statues of symbols that manifest the ‘Spirit of ASEAN’.
The statue performs skilled hands creation of sculpture from six countries that established ASEAN. From Thailand with Fraternity, Indonesia Peace, Singapore Spirit of ASEAN, Malaysia Peace, Harmony and One, and Brunei Darussalam Rebirth
The Fraternity was Nonthivathn Chandhanaphalin’s statue. The sculpture was born in Thailand, October 16th 1946, a college lecturer at Sculpture Departement, Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Grapic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. He was also the President of the Thai Sculpture Association since 1982. The Note Containing brief description about the statue was made on a small concrete block we can see on the main line in the garden.
The ASEAN Spirit Statue was a made by Wee Beng Chong from Singapura. An artist and well known Sculpture who was born in Singapore on November 22nd, 1938. He was the first receiver of The Cultural Medallion in 1979, a medal that was initiated by Ong Teng Cheong, President and later the Minister of Culture of Singapore.
The landmark of the park is very beautiful, ever since the colonial era. Since it’s become Menteng elite residential area and the location that is only a stone fall away from the official residence of the Governor of Jakarta, as well as the residence of state officials on vice president level. In the west is the residence of the US ambassador.
The original name of the park is Burgemeester Bisschopplein, designed by PAJ Mooejen and FJ Kubatz. The name of the park is taken after the the first Mayor (Burgemeester) of Batavia, G.J. Bisshop (1916-1920).
Pieter Adrianss Jacobus Moojen, the architect lives and works in Indonesia during 1904-1929. He contributes a lot in designing and building the area of Nieuw-Gondangdia, the original name of Menteng. Moojen designs Menteng pattern (radial) in 1910 and is approved by city council in 1912. The design is then known as Moojen Plan.
A garden plan and a fairly detailed description are mounted on the right side of the park. Among the description is a note that the flowerbed area of the park is at 1.173 square meters from the total 16.328 square meters, with 93 trees shady trees. The tress are mahogany(swietania mahogany), sapodilla kecik (chrysophiliium sp), Ketapang (Terminalia catappa), cape (mimusop elengi), bungur (lagerstromea loudonii), and khaya (khaya senelaensis l).
The sanitation of the park is well preserved. Cleaning service is on the job 3-5 times a day, depending on the circumstances. Should we visit the Suropati Park, it will be complete because of the various community gathered in the area. Starting from the arts community of music of the violin, saxophone, guitar, there are also community attractions bicycles, skateboards, dancers and more. Every Sunday morning until afternoon there is a community music player called Suropati Park Chambers. They play and practice here. Member of this community has reached more than 100 people with mostly play the violin and guitar.
People who visit the park will be amused with the attractive performance. Also there are pigeons set free from a high stage house. Hmmm, interested in visiting here Superkids?
NURUL L. IRFAN
PHOTO: NURUL L. IRFAN
