The Jakarta Provincial Government is prioritizing sports accessibility by building a free padel court at Taman Bendera Pusaka, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
Governor Pramono Anung stated that residents will have free access, provided they bring their own equipment.
Pramono said on Thursday, 7 August 2025, as reported by Kompas.com, that the city will build a padel court, allowing people to play for free as long as they bring their own equipment.
Taman Bendera Pusaka is a newly consolidated green space, merging Taman Ayodhya, Taman Langsat, and Taman Leuser in the Blok M area. The project is still in its planning phase.
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Pramono acknowledged that while padel has become increasingly popular, it is widely perceived as a costly sport.
He referred to public reaction earlier this year when the provincial government designated padel as one of the objects subject to the Specific Goods and Services Tax (PBJT).
“This is a sport that’s super popular and super expensive. But all sports are subject to tax. When it was taxed, there was a big uproar,” he said.
The government has set a PBJT rate of 10% for padel court usage, as outlined in the Decision of the Head of the Jakarta Capital City Revenue Agency No. 257 of 2025.
The regulation applies to court rentals, entrance tickets, and bookings through digital platforms.
In addition to the padel court, Taman Bendera Pusaka will also include a running track. Pramono emphasised that the aim is to create a public space that encourages physical activity for all residents.
“Why? So that everyone has the opportunity to exercise,” he said.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the park was held privately on Friday, 8 August 2025, attended by Pramono and the 5th President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
New Park to Serve as Multifunctional Sports Space
Head of the Jakarta Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora), Andri Yansyah, described the park’s development as a valuable opportunity to expand community sports facilities.
Located in the Barito area of Kebayoran Baru, the 5.5-hectare park is expected to become a multifunctional green open space and a hub for recreational activities.
“It’s not just about being ready; we’re thrilled because we’ve been given the opportunity to add sports facilities for the community. Although the asset belongs to another local government agency, we remain open to collaboration,” Andri said in a written statement to national media on Saturday, 9 August 2025.
The park is being designed to function as an open-air sports venue, similar to other large parks in the capital such as Tebet Eco Park.
Planned facilities include basketball, volleyball, badminton, and padel courts, along with jogging tracks.
According to Andri, these facilities align with national programmes promoting health and fitness, such as Indonesia Bugar and Indonesia Sehat.
He noted that public spaces are increasingly sought after not just for leisure, but also for activities that encourage an active lifestyle.
“Basketball, volleyball, and badminton courts are examples of facilities that can be prioritised because they are popular across all age groups and have proven to attract residents in Jakarta’s large parks,” he said.
Andri expressed strong support for the padel court initiative, noting its rising popularity.
“A park like this would be ideal if it had popular sports facilities, such as padel. Currently, many people are interested in padel, but the costs are high. Here, as the Governor mentioned, it will be free for all residents,” he said.
Governor Pramono concluded that the facility will help make the sport more inclusive. “A free padel court is a statement that padel is not just for the upper-middle class, but can be accessed by all residents,” he said.
The construction of the Taman Pusaka Bendera is targeted for completion in December 2025.
