Gardens for the people
Singapore is designing its next national gardens according to what the citizens want.
JURONG Lake Gardens, Singapore’s next national gardens, will have an aquatic garden feature showcasing the largest collection of water lilies in this part of the world, as well as walking trails and cycling paths.
These features were added to the master plans for the central and eastern segments of the development after gathering public feedback about the proposed designs.
Other popular suggestions included requests for more park amenities like food and beverage outlets, recreational areas, and improved connectivity around the gardens.
More than 14,000 suggestions were taken into consideration by Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks).
The public engagement exercise was conducted from November 2016 to April last year.
The finalised designs were unveiled recently at an exhibition in conjunction with a tree-planting event at Jurong Lake Gardens West.
Kartini Omar, group director of Parks Development and Jurong Lake Gardens at NParks, said the focus of the exercise is to make the gardens a place where the community can come together for a range of activities, from water sports to gardening.
“It will be a people’s gardens, where the community will be able to enjoy the spaces,” she said.
The 90ha gardens are part of a larger transformation of the Jurong Lake District. It comprises three parts: Jurong Lake Gardens West, Central and East.
The construction tender for the central area, which consists of the Chinese and Japanese gardens, and the east side, which will house the new Science Centre, will be called in the middle of this year.
An east-west cycling route will be provided across the Chinese Garden to connect Taman Jurong to Jurong Town Hall and Jurong East
Visitors will be able to walk or jog along trails.
The aquatic gardens will showcase more than 140 varieties of water lilies, including more than 100 varieties that are new here, such as the Australian giant water lily. Boardwalks will allow visitors to get up close to them.
Many features in the Chinese and Japanese Gardens will also be retained, as they hold special memories for Singaporeans.
The western segment of the new gardens will open next year with other parts to follow.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also chairman of the Jurong Lake District steering committee, said: “Our parks belong to all Singaporeans, and so this is an important groundup process to shape our national gardens in the heartlands together.”
Residents interviewed welcomed the improved plans for the gardens. Nicholas Kee, 25, who has been living at nearby Yuan Ching Road for the past decade, suggested having more recreational facilities and event spaces.
“It is good that we get to choose what we want in the gardens, and to see some of those suggestions being implemented,” said the National University of Singapore student.
“The changes give me and my family something to look forward to during the weekends.”