Strolling Through Memories at the New Face of Lapangan Merdeka Medan

Hey Hive fam, wherever you guys are! Hope everyone is doing good and got something that made you smile today.
Yesterday afternoon I just dropped off a passenger near Medan Train Station. While I was there, my eyes went straight to Lapangan Merdeka across the street. This place is definitely not new to me. Back in the day, I used to come here almost every Sunday morning to work out or just chill and walk around. But since 2022, the Medan city government gave it a huge renovation. The project took forever and finally finished in 2024. Funny thing is, even though it is super close to my place, this was the first time I actually went inside after the makeover. Before that I only passed by and looked from afar. Meanwhile, this field holds so many childhood and teenage memories for me.

From elementary school until high school, I played soccer here with my buddies almost every afternoon. Every Sunday morning I would jog here too, not just for health reasons... but yeah, to check out the cute girls who were also jogging, haha. Those days were a lot of fun! It was not just that. Every August 17th I joined flag ceremonies here with kids from other schools. Pretty much every corner of this field has its own story for me. So yesterday I decided to finally stop by and see what the new version looks like. Come walk with me!

The photos above show how Lapangan Merdeka looks now. Honestly, the moment I stepped in I was blown away. It used to be just a regular field, but now it feels like a modern city park that's really well kept. The walking paths are wider, the grass is super green and neat, and the old trees that are the signature of this place are still standing strong. There are kids play areas, free workout equipment, benches to relax, and flower gardens that make the whole spot feel alive. What I like most is that the renovation did not kill the original soul of Lapangan Merdeka. Those big old trees, some probably decades or even hundreds of years old, still give cool shade even in the middle of hot and busy Medan. When I visited it was still pretty quiet, just a few people jogging, strolling, and some pigeons chilling and looking for food. It felt nice being able to enjoy every corner without crowds.

This is the new Pendopo right in the middle of the field. The roof design looks more modern and unique now, totally different from the simple one before. Even from far away it already stands out. Back then this spot was always used for traditional dance practice, theater, and other art activities. In the afternoons it would get packed with school kids and art groups. I have a funny memory here. After playing soccer with my friends, we would rest at the Pendopo while secretly watching the girls practicing traditional dance. We were such typical teenagers back then, innocent but mischievous, haha. Every Sunday morning the Pendopo also turned into a mass exercise spot. On big national holidays it became the main stage. Seeing this new Pendopo made me realize places can change, but the memories stay stuck in my head.

One of the new features that immediately caught my eye is this running track. From a distance it looks like normal grass, but up close you see it uses soft synthetic material with white lines. It looks professional, like a mini stadium. In the old days the edges were just regular dirt. Dusty in dry season, muddy when it rained. Now it is way more comfortable. I am kinda jealous of the kids these days, they get to exercise in a much nicer place. Small changes but they make a huge difference.

Because it sits right in the city center, from here you can see a mix of modern buildings and old Dutch colonial ones. That combination is what makes Lapangan Merdeka special. It still has that strong historical vibe but is also fun to hang out at now.

It is also more family friendly these days. There is a dedicated playground with swings, slides, and stuff. Parents can jog or relax while the kids play. Pretty cool, we did not have that back then.

There is one spot that got me curious. On one side there is this underground area with glass doors that are still tightly closed. Looks modern, maybe for kiosks or food stalls. But right now it is dead quiet with no activity. Hope they open it soon so the place gets even livelier.

And the coolest thing for me is the skate park! I never expected something like this in a city park. Back then skaters usually practiced on sidewalks or around monuments. Now they have their own safe spot. When I was there it was still quiet, but I can already imagine it getting packed on weekends with kids showing off tricks. Awesome!

Before heading home I stopped by the Proklamasi Independence Monument. It is still there and did not change much. Skaters used to practice around it before, now they have their own area. Good move, the monument stays protected as a piece of history. Long story short, yesterday's visit left me really satisfied. Lapangan Merdeka is now prettier, more organized, but still keeps its historical heart. Hope it stays well maintained and becomes something Medan can be proud of.

Who knows, maybe next time I will bring some friends here to hang out and swap old stories.

Thanks for tagging along on my little memory walk, Hive fam!

See you on the next adventure!