Save Taman Danau Desa Playground: Our Last Green Space Is Under Threat

Once a thriving children’s park and beloved community hub, the Taman Danau Desa Playground is now under threat of being lost forever. What was long gazetted as “Open Space and Recreation” is being quietly alienated by DBKL for commercial development—without public consultation, and against all common sense.

This isn’t just any patch of land. It’s where our children played, where residents gathered for recycling and gardening initiatives, and where even dog training classes brought neighbors together. It was, in every sense, the heart of our community.

But DBKL seems to have other plans. In a move that disregards thousands of public objections and signed petitions, the city has moved forward with rezoning this land—justifying the change by saying the zoning now "aligns" with the land title. They argue that since the title says “residential,” the playground should follow suit.

This directly contradicts the certified survey plan of 2004 and even the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2021, both of which clearly earmarked the playground as open space. Let’s be clear—this isn't just an oversight. It's a betrayal of the community’s trust, and an assault on our quality of life.

Taman Danau Desa is already densely packed. Anyone living here knows the daily struggle with traffic jams, the hunt for parking, and the rising stress of overcrowding. Taking away the last remaining open space will only make things worse. This is not sustainable urban planning—it’s short-term gain at the expense of long-term livability.

We are not giving up. But time is against us.

We have only 90 days from the date of the gazettement of the KL Local Plan 2040 to file a judicial review. This is our last resort to stop this from happening. After that, the playground will be gone—and so will any chance of getting it back.

If you care about your neighborhood, your environment, and your children’s right to play in a safe, green space, we need your help now.

Here’s how you can support:

• Donate to the legal fund. Every ringgit counts.

• Volunteer your time or skills to support the legal challenge, community outreach, or media awareness.

• Share this story widely. The more people know, the harder it is for this to go unnoticed.

• Join our campaign to demand transparency and accountability from DBKL.

This is not just about one playground. It’s about the kind of city we want to live in.

Help us protect Taman Danau Desa. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

#SaveTamanDesa #OpenSpaceNotConcrete #PeopleBeforeProfit