Indonesia
Bungkul Park, the Best Park in Asia
It’s not hard to find a shady park in downtown of Surabaya. But this one is truly superspecial.
Once Surabaya was often called the sultriest city of Indonesia (go ask mom, we might have not yet born around that time). Today? Wow, a real beauty! Just imagine, we can find a park almost in every corner of the city. It has Prestasi Park, Dolog Park, Flora Park, Lansia Park and more.
Of all those, the first park we must visit when in Surabaya is Bungkul. It’s located in Raya Darmo area, highway to city center. It’s the city park that won international award “The 2013 Asian Townscape Award” (ATA) for category The Best Park in Asia from United Nation (UN).
The park officially opened on March 21st 2007, but not until 2010 when Tri Rismaharini is in charge for Surabaya, the park undergoes total makeover. Bungkul Park that once shabby, transforms into a beautiful and crowded park. Bu Risma -Tri Rismaharini’s popular nickname- is not holding back funding the makeover of Bungkul Park. Since before sitting on mayor’s office, Bu Risma has always been a plants lover who serves as the head of Sanitation and Gardenship Service (DKP) of Surabaya.
But, wait a second. Why would the park that becomes an icon of Surabaya called Bungkul? Don’t bother opening Javanese dictionary for translation. Bungkul is not Javanese word, instead the name of a figure who contributes in spreading Islamic teaching around Surabaya. The real name is Ki Ageng Supo but more often called Sunan Bungkul or Mbah Bungkul. Now, his tomb lies in the rear area of the park. It’s well preserved and many people still go there.
Now, what’s the attractive part of Bungkul Park? Surabaya City Government transforms the park into an economist recreational center for family. Each of its facility is open for everyone without charge. For those who want to have safe jogging by the steer, Bungkul Park offers a jogging track. For young people who are fond of skateboard, it has skateboard track with towering attraction board. BMX crazier community used to join in this area.
For Superkids like us, it has a water park and fountain. Each one of those facilities is -mark this- free of charge. Bungkul Park also has a green park that not only contains flowers and plants, but also lampion statues in animals and plants form. These lampions are on at 17.00 every day. Just never think of getting inside the park by then. The station guard is just in front of the park and the officers never slacking watching out, making sure the park is free from pranksters mischief. Leave alone picking some flowers and leaves, it’s forbidden to step on the green tidy grass.
In the center of this 900 m2 park, there’s a circle area for live music performance and any other attractive entertainment. If anyone is making a big event here, the stage is usually set inside the circle. Another not less important point, this place gas a free Wi-Fi access zone and and plenty of comfortable benches for people to sit and use the free internet.
In the rear area of the park is a hawker center. Typical menu of Surabaya like rawon (uh, it’s so happen that the famous famous Rawon Kalkulator is also available here, you know!), lontong balap, semanggi, and rujak cingur are available at affordable prices. General menu like meatballs, martabak, fried rice and even chicken soup were there. But to you understand that you need to pay to fill in stomach here, ok?
Curious for the shady and low budget downtown recreational center at Taman Bungkul?
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: HAFIDA INDRAWATI
