TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Provincial Government has officially canceled its plan to convert a public football field in Kedoya Selatan, West Jakarta, into a padel arena. The decision was made after a series of meetings, including one at the Jakarta Youth and Sports Agency, in response to protests from local residents.
According to Kedoya Selatan Chief, Aryan Safari, the cancellation is final. "It's settled. There will be no conversion of the football field into a padel court; the field will continue to be used for football," Aryan said on Sunday, July 27, 2025, as quoted by Antaranews.
Residents of RW 03 Kedoya Selatan had been protesting the plan for some time. Iskandar, 45, a local resident, emphasized that the field is the community's only sports facility. "This is the only sports facility residents have. If it becomes a padel court, where will we play sports?" he said on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Iskandar and other residents argued that padel is an elite sport, while the football field is accessible to everyone. "Padel is a sport for the upper middle class. If a padel court is built here, our access will be limited," he added.
Similar objections were voiced by mothers residing near the field. Herni (43), a housewife, mentioned that her husband works as a football coach at the field. For their family, the football field is more than just a place for sports; it is also a vital source of income.
"My husband is a football coach here. It's not just for sports; it's also for our livelihood. We even planned a local football tournament in the near future," said Herni, who also disclosed that the tournament has been an annual tradition.
Creative Protests and Political Intervention
The community's opposition was visible through murals on the field's outer wall, with messages like "padel is not my style," "sports is not only for the rich," and "the common people need space for fun." These messages articulated their disagreement with the padel project, which they perceived as incompatible with their community's needs and aspirations.
The residents' protests also attracted attention from members of the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD DKI Jakarta). Yudha Permana, a Commission E member, expressed strong objection to the plan during a meeting with the Jakarta Youth and Sports Agency at the Parliament Building on Wednesday, July 22, 2025.
"We request that the study related to this plan be definitive and involve the local residents in the decision-making process," he asserted.
Yudha also reminded the relevant authorities to consider the potential social impacts arising from the proposed change in the field's function. He noted that banners protesting the plan had already been displayed at the field as a tangible form of community dissent.
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