Maintaining People’s Fitness at Palembang City Park

For Palembang residents, city parks are not just a place to relax, but are icons of the city. What\'s more, the wide green open spaces have become an oasis for residents in the midst of a pandemic.

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Kambang Iwak City Park, Palembang, South Sumatera, Sunday (13/6/2021). Citizens doing sport and gather around here.

Firmansyah Putra (34), a resident of Kertapati, Palembang, South Sumatra, took his wife and three children for recreation at Kambang Iwak City Park, on Sunday (13/6/2021). This is the first time Firmansyah has returned to the park since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.

Firmansyah\'s son ran happily in the middle of the city park. He kept trying all kinds of facilities available, such as slides, swings and toy cars.

For Firmansyah, vacationing in the park is an option during the pandemic because this place offers the beauty of the city without having to worry about breaking the bank. In addition to being healthy and able to keep a distance, he can also save money.

Firmansyah can never forget the 5 hectare garden that has existed since the Dutch colonial period. "Since I dated my wife about 13 years ago, I\'ve been coming here," said Firmansyah, laughing.

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The beauty of the park is increasingly radiated with an artificial lake that functions as a water catchment area so that when it rains this area is not flooded.

Rudi Yanto (40), a private employee in Palembang, for example, takes advantage of the 800-meter jogging track at Kambang Iwak City Park for an afternoon run.

“Usually I can run around up to four laps. Not bad for maintaining health," said Rudi. The cool air interspersed with a light breeze makes the feeling of tiredness in the body disappear instantly. After jogging, the father of three children felt more fit.

The beauty of the park is increasingly radiated with an artificial lake that functions as a water catchment area so that when it rains this area is not flooded.

Health protocol

The park at the intersection of Jalan Tasik and Jalan Sutomo is often visited by residents for relaxing or exercise. Every afternoon or on weekends, this area is never quiet. There are many activities, such as sports, ranging from jogging around the lake, cycling, to “hanging out” or gathering of some hobbyist groups, although of course it is mandatory to still apply health protocols.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Two visitors are sitting at the lakeside in Kambang Iwak City Park, Sunday (13/6/2021).

The South Sumatran Animal Hobbyist also makes the park a place for gathering. When they gather, they bring with them their pets, such as albino pythons, root civets, African monitor lizards, sugar gliders and iguanas.

In addition to keeping in touch with fellow community members, they also educate visitors about the animals they care for.

The head of the South Sumatran Animal Hobbyists, Andrienta, said that actually this community always goes around the city park in Palembang. However, since the pandemic, not all parks have been opened to prevent the spread of Covid-19. "That\'s why we gather more often at Kambang Iwak City Park," he said.

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Preserver of South Sumatra identity

According to Andrienta, this city park is the right place to provide education to the people of Palembang City to love animals more. "When visitors know animals, they will protect them," said Andrienta.

On the other hand, many business actors are looking for opportunities in city parks, both selling various culinary and roadside snacks, and various toys that attract children.

Researcher from the South Sumatra Archaeological Center, Retno Purwanti, explained that Palembang had always had a beautiful garden filled with food plants and advanced technology at that time. The story of the garden is written in the Talang Tuwo Inscription which was found in 1920.

In the inscription written with the Pallawa script in Old Malay, it is explained about Tang Sriksetra Park in Talang Tuwo which was established during the Kedatuan Sriwijaya (Srivijaya Kingdom) in 684 AD.

The beautiful garden is overgrown with a variety of peat food plants that can be used by people who stopped there. "The park was very useful," said Retno.

The park also had a high-tech design with canals, ponds, lakes and ditches. This technology was used so that when it rained, the city did not flood and when the dry season came, Palembang was not dry.

"From here we can learn a lesson, city development must refer to the welfare of the people and environmental sustainability," said Retno.

Communal Discipline

Now, at least 200 parks adorn the city of Palembang. Some of the parks covering an area of 100 square meters to 5 hectares are managed by the local administration and some are managed by the private sector.

From here we can learn a lesson, city development must refer to the welfare of the people and environmental sustainability

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Palembang map comparison between 2001 and 2020 via Google Earth.

Head of the Palembang Public Works and Public Housing and Settlement Areas, Affan Prapanca Mahali, explained that currently the construction of a new city park is constrained by limited land. "To create a city park, like Kambang Iwak in the middle of the city, is very difficult because the land is very limited," said Affan.

The beauty of the park can offer cooling effect to the city during the Covid-19 pandemic. The discipline of residents to take care of the park will help maintain its beauty. Citizens\' compliance with health protocols will also prevent the spread of Covid-19 and maintain the health of others.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko)