2025 Theses Master's

Public vs. Private: A Comparative Study of Public Space Management in Jakarta, Indonesia

Dissa, Reina

This thesis compares the management approaches of publicly and privately managed public spaces in Jakarta, Indonesia, a city facing significant challenges in providing adequate green space with only 5.2% of its area dedicated to such purpose against the mandated 30%.

Through qualitative research methods, including desk research and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, the study analyzes three case study locations: Tebet Eco Park, Taman Suropati (publicly managed), and Taman Martha Christina Tiahahu/Literacy Park (privately managed). The research investigates fundamental differences in management structures, funding models, decision-making processes, and operational frameworks between these management approaches.

The findings reveal distinct operational paradigms: publicly managed spaces follow state-centered models characterized by hierarchical governance, provincial budget dependencies, and standardized procedures, while privately managed spaces employ quasi-market approaches with decentralized public-private partnerships, commercial revenue streams, and more adaptive programming. Every model has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, publicly maintained spaces guarantee universal access but face difficulties with funding sustainability and bureaucratic inefficiency. Privately run venues, on the other hand, exhibit financial independence and operational agility, but they are vulnerable to over-commercialization and may exclude economically disadvantaged groups.

The thesis proposes targeted recommendations for improving both management approaches, including streamlining governance and diversifying funding sources for public management, balancing commercial activities with public service for private management, and developing context-specific models that leverage the strengths of both approaches. This research contributes to urban planning discourse on effective strategies for managing public spaces in densely populated cities. It offers insights for policymakers in similar high-density urban environments facing comparable public space provision and management.