Hundreds of UGM students and the local people of Yogyakarta make good use of the campus area of UGM for doing sports everyday. On Sundays, the number of people flocking together to do sports are even in thousands. UGM, therefore, would open more access to society.
According to Vice Rector for Human Resource and Asset of UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Budi Santoso Wignyosukarto, Dip. HE., UGM has prepared several programmes. Firstly, UGM would set up the Wisdom Park at Jalan Notonagoro. The park would be optimised as a sporting arena and communal space alternative, as well as water catchment area, conservation area, fisheries area and arboretum. Apart from UGM academic community, the public may also use the space.
“We started the construction of the water catchment area this year. It is a priority as it serves as a flood retention. We hope that flooding such as that happened in Sagan area can be anticipated,” Budi said on Friday (18/10) at UGM. More absorbing wells, however, are required in the area where the Belik river flows. UGM, therefore, would request the local people of Kuningan and Karangmalang to make wells there whilst offering to give mentoring and proposals on financing resources.
“The financing resources we offered is by maintaining the Sunday Morning (Sunmor) market on the campus of UGM,” he added.
It is therefore seen as necessary to relocate the Sunmor area to the UGM east ring road, making it closer to society. Sunmor will further be managed by an organisation set up by the neighbourhood to give more benefits to all the people of Kuningan and Karangmalang.
UGM also plans to extend the UGM east ring road to become 12 metre wide or the same width as that of Notonagoro road. This pays attention to the interest of street vendors.
“Next year there will be a programme for the road extension so access to students and street vendors are easier,” Budi said.
Budi Santoso explained the relocation of Sunmor is planned to commence in October 2013. The Wisdom Park and the relocation is a form of UGM care about society, giving more uses of the campus for the people. To make this possible, everyone should make a compromise.