Jakarta. Governor Pramono Anung plans to transform Jakarta’s neglected public spaces into vibrant green parks, drawing inspiration from New York City’s famed High Line Park, an elevated linear park built on a disused rail line.

“While in New York, I visited the High Line Park, and it inspired me to utilize Jakarta’s many neglected public spaces,” Pramono said during the Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation Regional Convening in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.

The Jakarta administration will hold a special meeting with the mayors of Jakarta’s municipalities and the regent of the Thousand Islands on Friday to map out details for the initiative, which aims to beautify the city while tackling Jakarta’s land acquisition challenges.

The High Line in New York City is a 2.3-kilometer elevated park built on a former freight rail line on Manhattan’s West Side. Since opening in phases beginning in 2009, the park has transformed a disused industrial corridor into a lush urban greenway, featuring gardens, art installations, and pedestrian paths, while spurring neighborhood revitalization and serving as a model for adaptive reuse in cities worldwide.

Pramono sees a similar potential for Jakarta, where densely populated neighborhoods often lack accessible green spaces, and development projects frequently stall due to the complexities of land acquisition.

“This program will not only beautify Jakarta with additional green spaces but also provide a solution to the city’s long-standing land acquisition issues,” Pramono said, adding that many public facilities in Jakarta are underutilized and can be repurposed for community benefit.

By revitalizing abandoned public areas, Pramono hopes to promote community participation while enhancing the quality of life in the congested capital.