Tebet Eco Park

Status
ongoing
50%
City

Jakarta

Main actors

City Government, Private Sector

Project area

Neighborhood or district

Duration

Ongoing since 2021

Tebet Eco Park is a 7-hectare public park revitalization project located in South Jakarta that focuses on active restoration of the site's ecology through tree conservation and enhanced blue-green infrastructure. The ecological landscape design approach reduces flooding risk through river re-naturalization.

This new placemaking creates an inclusive environment offering a wide range of recreational activities, maximizing benefits for both park users and surrounding natural habitats. New active and passive park zones have been incorporated into the blue-green space to complement the ecologically restored waterway and lush vegetation.

This private-public collaboration, involving multiple government agencies, goes beyond simply revitalizing a park—it enhances the local community's quality of life and yields positive impacts on public well-being. Since its opening, the park has attracted an average of 15,000 daily visitors.

The broader impact of Tebet Eco Park represents growing public demand for recreational green spaces while setting a precedent as Jakarta's first large public park project implementing a nature-based solution approach.

This is an abbreviated version of the original case study on the Urban SDG Knowledge Platform with information provided by the Center for Research and Innovation, Regional Development Planning Agency of Jakarta Provincial Government.

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesEnsure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for allReduce inequality within and among countriesMake cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainableTake urgent action to combat climate change and its impactsProtect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity lossPromote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levelsStrengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
City
Jakarta, Indonesia
Size and population development
2011: 9,769,000; 1990: 8,175,000; 2025: 12,822,000; 2010-2015: +1.67% / year
Population composition
35.16% Javanese, 27.65% Native Jakarta,15.27% Sundanese and 5.53% Chinese (2000); large number of migrants living in slums; overwhelmingly Islamic population
Main functions
Capital city; economic, cultural and political centre of Indonesia
Main industries / business
Financial service, trade, manufacturing, food, textiles, leather; electronics, automotives, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences
Sources for city budget
Political structure
Jakarta has a Governor (instead of a mayor) who is directly elected by the population. The five municipalities of the city are each headed by a Mayor who is appointed by the Governor. Jakarta has also an administrative regency consisting of 105 small islands located on the Java Sea.
Administrative structure
5 administrative cities/municipalities, 1 regency, 43 sub districts, 256 towns
Website
http://www.jakarta.go.id/en

The Tebet Eco Park initiative emerged in response to historical and social changes in the Tebet area, particularly the migration of the Betawi Tribe from Senayan in 1962. This migration, spurred by a major sports event, significantly increased the population density, transforming Tebet into a densely populated, culturally diverse area. With a population of 238,323 people and a density of 26,363/km² over a 9.04 km² area, the preservation of 7.3 hectares of tree-covered land in Tebet Eco Park has become crucial.

Tebet Eco Park presents a unique opportunity for the Jakarta Provincial Government to create a community program that benefits not only local residents but also the broader population of South Jakarta and the entire city. In a densely populated area with limited open spaces, the park has become a multifunctional hub addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges. By embracing the "eco park" concept, the initiative brings together the diverse community, blending green and blue spaces through a natural approach, and transforming the park into a vibrant space for social interaction and environmental sustainability. 

The revitalization of Tebet Eco Park involved several key actions and stages, beginning with comprehensive planning to address the environmental, social, and economic needs of the urban area. The project included the improvement of landscape layouts, the creation of green spaces, and the development of designated activity zones to align with the environmental and socio-cultural conditions of Tebet. Collaboration with the Jakarta Experience Board (JXB) played a crucial role in enhancing the park's appeal, leading to the creation of the Tebet Eco Park Experience, which included the development of welcoming areas, food stalls, and increased visibility through social media. 

Community engagement was a central component of the initiative, with Tebet Eco Park serving as a vital public space for the residents of Jakarta. The park was designed to support a variety of recreational activities, fostering community involvement by providing a venue for self-expression and alternative leisure activities. This participatory planning approach helped ensure that the park met the needs and expectations of the local community, thereby increasing its relevance and usage. The Jakarta Provincial Government recognized the importance of involving the community in the planning process to create a space that truly reflected the desires and needs of its users. 

To ensure the long-term sustainability of Tebet Eco Park, Jakarta Provincial Government has implemented monitoring and evaluation measures to track the park's performance and impact. The strategy to maintain the park's relevance and success over the mid- and long-term includes aligning the park's development with Jakarta's medium-term development plan. This involves fostering a healthy and regenerative environment that can adapt to future urban challenges while consistently delivering positive benefits to the community. By integrating the park’s goals with broader urban development plans, the government ensures that Tebet Eco Park remains a sustainable and vital part of Jakarta's landscape. 

The total budget for the planning and implementation stages of the Tebet Eco Park initiative was approximately $6,275,000USD.

The budget was fully funded by external resources as part of a compensation and conversion to their legal obligations (private sectors). The entire process, from planning to implementation, spanned from August 2020 to August 2023, reflecting a significant investment in both time and resources. 

For the ongoing maintenance of the park, funding comes from Jakarta’s Provincial Budget, with an annual allocation of approximately $344,500USD. During the planning and implementation phases, many internal staff and technical resources were mobilized to ensure the initiative's success. This included teams from the Department for Park and Forestry, Department for Water Resources Department, Department for Spatial Planning and Land Affairs, and other supporting departments, highlighting the collaborative effort across various city departments. 

The initiative also incorporated several advanced technologies, particularly in hydrology, using historical data and models to predict the flood capacity of Tebet Eco Park over the next 5, 10, and even 50 years. Additionally, for the maintenance of key infrastructure such as the park’s Infinity Bridge, the Park and Forestry Department utilized technology to calculate the maximum visitor capacity, ensuring the structure's safety and longevity.

The revitalization of Taman Tebet into Tebet Eco Park has brought significant benefits to the residents of Jakarta, especially those in the surrounding areas. The park has become a the residents of Jakarta, especially those in the surrounding areas. The park has become a major attraction, with an average of 99,180 visitors per month in 2023, totaling 1.12 million for the year. This influx of visitors makes Tebet Eco Park one of the most popular public spaces in Jakarta, far surpassing other parks like Lapangan Banteng (park). The park has also become a hub for public events, with over 221 events held in 2023, ranging from student gatherings to commercial shoots and community exercise activities. This has created a vibrant social environment, attracting participants from all over the city.  

Success has been measured primarily by the substantial increase in visitor numbers and the surge in public events hosted at the park. The park’s ability to draw a large and diverse crowd indicates its effectiveness as a public space that meets the needs of the community. Additionally, the regularity and variety of events held at the park demonstrate its success in fostering community engagement and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle among residents. These metrics highlight the park's role in enhancing social cohesion and providing a space for recreation and community-building. 

The success of Tebet Eco Park can be attributed to several factors, including its strategic location in a densely populated area and its design that integrates environmental and social elements. The park's natural features, such as its tree cover and river re-naturalization efforts, have improved environmental quality, contributing to cleaner air and water in the area. However, challenges such as maintaining the park's infrastructure and ensuring equitable access for all residents remain. Despite these challenges, the park has made strides in benefiting disadvantaged and marginalized groups by offering a green space that is accessible to all, helping to alleviate the scarcity of such spaces in Jakarta and providing a venue for community interaction and environmental education. 

The park addresses important environmental issues by fostering a dynamic ecology. Featuring diverse plant life, a tree catalogue, and a naturalized river stream, Tebet Eco Park incorporates river re-naturalization as a key element. The carefully designed riverbanks act as natural filters for surface water pollution, showcasing an effective model for revitalizing city parks. This approach could be replicated in other parks in Jakarta and major cities across Indonesia, offering a blueprint for future urban environmental projects. 

The success of Tebet Eco Park offers valuable lessons for replication, but its impact was partly due to the specific local context of Jakarta. The design principles and strategies employed—such as natural water filtration, the integration of blue and green spaces, and the development of social meeting areas—can be adapted and applied in other urban areas. However, the replication of this model may require adjustments to fit different local contexts, especially in terms of scale, budget, and available land. While the initiative has influenced the creation of similar parks in Jakarta, scaling up this model to benefit a larger population presents challenges, particularly in securing adequate funding and finding suitable locations. 

This initiative would be best suited for replication in urban contexts that have similar characteristics to Jakarta, such as moderately dense populations, limited green spaces, and a need for improved environmental quality. Cities that have existing blue-green infrastructure or those seeking to develop such spaces would benefit from adopting Tebet Eco Park’s approach. Additionally, urban areas with strong community engagement and public transportation systems can effectively support the establishment and success of similar parks. However, the availability of land and budget constraints must be carefully managed to ensure that the initiative can be scaled appropriately in these new contexts. 

Key lessons for parties interested in replication include the importance of integrating environmental and social elements, securing community support, and aligning the initiative with existing urban infrastructure. The success of Tebet Eco Park demonstrates that even in space-constrained cities, innovative design can create multifunctional green spaces that address environmental challenges while enhancing social cohesion. For scaling up, stakeholders should focus on smaller, strategically placed parks throughout the city that maintain the core principles of Tebet Eco Park. This approach allows for wider implementation while managing budget limitations and land availability, ultimately benefiting a larger number of urban residents. 

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Chris DiGennaro
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Chris DiGennaro

Individual | Senior Program Officer, CityNet Secretariat

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