THE park, located on the banks of the Krukut River, is only 2 x 5 meters in area. Welltended, it’s green with plants and flowers of all colors. A concrete bench faces the river whose water is a dirty brownish grey. Close to the bench is a dispenser provided for visitors.

A park in Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta, an area crowded with office buildings, marketplaces, and noisy neighborhoods, is indeed special. “I’m surprised,” says Arme