Slumpring Market in Cempaka Village, Bumijawa District, Tegal Regency, now has a new attraction with the inauguration of the Children’s Play Zone by the Community Service Team of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) on Sunday (August 31st). The inauguration was symbolically carried out with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Head of the Cempaka Village Tourism Group, Abdul Khayyi, S.E., witnessed by the Bumijawa District Military Commander, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Pancasakti University, Tegal, and market visitors. The presence of this play zone is expected to enrich the tourist attraction, making Slumpring Market not only a center for traditional culinary delights but also an educational recreation space for children.
The Team Leader, Dr. Kuncoro Bayu Prasetyo, S.Ant., M.A., stated that the zone’s existence is a strategic effort to support the development of education-based tourism.
“Hopefully, this children’s play zone will add value or diversify the tourist attractions at Slumpring Market, so that tourists are not only treated to traditional culinary delights but also enjoy playing. This effort also serves as a form of conservation of traditional games within the community,” he said.
This activity involved a Community Service Team from the UNNES Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), including Dr. R. Soeharso, M.Pd. and Hany Nurpratiwi, M.Pd.
The Head of the Cempaka Village Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), Abdul Khayyi, S.E., expressed similar enthusiasm, expressing his appreciation for this collaboration.
“We are very grateful to the UNNES Team. We really need the presence of the academic community from the campus to provide fresh ideas for the future development of Slumpring Market. Our Pokdarwis colleagues were very enthusiastic about creating this children’s play zone, from building a bridge to the play zone to making children’s play props,” he said.
Members of the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), such as Dedi Arif and Hidayatullah, also played an active role in the development of the facility.
The traditional games featured are naturally made from bamboo, including rangku alu, stilts, gobak sodor, and others. As a guide to playing these games, the UNNES team has also compiled a book, “Practical Guide to Bamboo Games; Pasar Slumpring Traditional Game Zone.” Visitors can access it by scanning the barcodes provided at several points in the traditional game zone.
This play zone not only enhances the tourist attraction but also conveys the message of preserving local culture through traditional games, which are becoming increasingly rare. The presence of this play area is expected to attract family tourists, provide educational experiences, and strengthen the village community-based creative economy. Furthermore, this initiative strengthens Pasar Slumpring’s image as a conservation-based tourism destination that combines culinary, cultural, and educational elements.
This activity also has a major contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4 (Quality Education) through the introduction of traditional games as an educational medium, Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) with the development of the local tourism sector, and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Settlements) through the management of inclusive public spaces. With the synergy between universities and the community, Pasar Slumpring is now increasingly ready to become an icon of sustainable tourism that prioritizes local wisdom and community empowerment.
