Parks and recreation: A guide to heartland parklands all over Singapore

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SINGAPORE - Hop on a bicycle or lace up those trainers and spend the month-long school holidays rediscovering nature trails in your own backyard.

Measuring more than 360km long, the entire park connector network threads together almost every part of the island to parks and recreational areas near housing estates.

The trails are designed to encourage people to slow down and appreciate the myriad sensory delights, from flowing rivers to thriving flora and fauna.

Here are five loops to check out.

 

Western adventure

1. Pang Sua Park Connector

Designed as a scenic 6km connector, this is a go-to for spotting birds such as the majestic white-bellied sea eagle.

There are also two butterfly gardens where you can spot the Common Grass Yellow and Plain Tiger butterflies.

2. Bukit Batok Town Park and Nature Park

The 42ha Bukit Batok Town Park along Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 is fondly referred to as Little Guilin because it resembles China's famed Guilin limestone landscape.

The smaller Bukit Batok Nature Park, developed on an abandoned quarry site, offers serene views on meandering footpaths and undulating terrain for a good workout.

 

North-eastern riverine

1. Kampong Lorong Buangkok

Trek back in time to Singapore of the mid-1900s at this kampung (Malay for "village"), probably the last of its kind, situated off Yio Chu Kang Road.

It has about 25 single-storey wooden houses nestled between landed properties and Housing Board blocks.

2. Lorong Halus Park Connector

This 3km stretch connects Pasir Ris and Punggol, and runs through Pasir Ris Farmway, which used to be dotted with pet and fish farms.

It also links Pasir Ris and Coney Island parks, giving pedestrians and cyclists stunning views of Serangoon Reservoir and Lorong Halus Wetland.

3. Coney Island Park

The 81ha park is conceived as an ecologically sustainable green lung. Its signage, seats and boardwalk are made from wood recycled from uprooted casuarina trees.

Coney Island is also home to about 80 species of birds, some of which are critically endangered.

Visit the island via bridges from Punggol Promenade and Pasir Ris Coast Industrial Park 6.

 

Northern explorer

1. Woodlands Waterfront

Singapore's northernmost park offers unobstructed views of the entire coastal park and the Straits of Johor.

Its 400m jetty, the longest in the country, is a haven for fishing enthusiasts and shutterbugs.

Its 1.5km-long waterfront promenade has interesting trees and plants such as the sea hibiscus, sea almond and tembusu.

2. Admiralty Park

Located in Woodlands, this is the largest park in the north.

It is built on hilly terrain with the scenic Sungei Cina as a main water body.

Its 20ha nature area features a mix of secondary forest, mangrove, riverine and open grassland habitats, and is home to more than 100 species of flora and fauna.

 

Eastern coastal

1. Bedok Reservoir Park

This stretch links Pasir Ris Park to East Coast Park and features Instagram-worthy views of the sea and other water bodies.

At 41.7ha, Bedok Reservoir Park has paved and dirt running tracks and regularly sees joggers and sports enthusiasts go through their paces.

2. Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park

While East Coast is a hive of activity, with features such as the Cyclist Park and Coastal PlayGrove, Changi Beach has a laid-back vibe.

The park draws those who enjoy a walk along the sandy beaches amid swaying coconut palms. Camping is not allowed during the current heightened alert.

 

Central urban

1. Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West

The 21ha park along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 has a secondary forest and a 120-step staircase, which leads to a plaza offering sweeping views of the surrounds. The neighbouring Garden East's rubber and nutmeg trees are reminders of early immigrants who worked in rubber plantations where Ang Mo Kio New Town now stands.

2. Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

One of the most stunning features of this 62ha park is its naturalised waterway, previously an old concrete canal.

National water agency PUB and the National Parks Board converted a stretch of the Kallang River as part of drainage improvement works, resulting in a 3km river with grassy banks, home to an array of flora and fauna.

3. Toa Payoh Town Park

This 4.8ha park in one of Singapore's oldest satellite towns was a popular venue in the 1970s and 1980s for wedding photography and remains a draw for joggers, cyclists and leisure walkers.

Its Observation Tower was awarded conservation status by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2009.

4. Punggol Park at Hougang

A 15-minute walk from Hougang or Buangkok MRT stations, the park has a 5ha pond and different zones for children to play and the elderly to stretch and exercise.

Some park facilities are closed due to the current heightened alert. The National Parks Board advises the public to mask up and keep to a group of up to two persons when visiting parks. Check this website for regular updates on crowd levels in parks.

 

Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.

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