Singapore’s Park Connector network – over 360km long, links together almost every part of the island to parks and recreational areas near housing estates.
NORTHERN : 2 PARKS
- Singapore’s northernmost park
- unobstructed views of the entire coastal park and the Strait of Johor
- its 400m jetty, the longest in the country, is a haven for fishing enthusiasts and photographers
- a 1.5km long waterfront promenade features interesting trees like the sea hibiscus, sea almond and tembusu
Admiralty Park, Woodlands
- the largest park in the north
- hilly terrain
- the scenic Sungei Cina is the main water body
- the 20ha nature area features a mix of secondary forest, mangrove, riverine and open grassland habitats, home to over 100 species of flora and fauna
NORTH-EASTERN RIVERINE : 3 PARKS
This riverine loop, 26 kms long and one of Singapore’s most scenic Park Connectors, links parks through the heartlands of Buangkok, Senkang and Punggol and continues into the rustic landscapes of Punggol Beach, Punggol Promenade and Lorong Halus Wetland. Coastline, canals and wetlands, the experience is one of gleaming reservoirs and waterways, the open waters of Sungei Dekar and the Johor Straits, a unique variety of plants and very many kinds of birds.
Kampong Lorong Buangkok, off Yio Chu Kang Road
- probably the last of the ‘kampong‘ (village in Malay) experiences of Singapore of the mid 1900’s
- around 25 single-storey wooden houses between Housing Board blocks and landed homes
Lorong Halus Park Connector (3kms)
- connects Pasir Ris and Punggol
- runs through Pasir Ris Farmway, which used to have pet and fish farms
- links Pasir Ris and Coney Island parks – good for cyclists and pedestrians – with great views of the Serangoon Reservoir and Lorong Halus Wetland
Coney Island Park (81ha)
- conceived as an ecologically sustainable green lung
- signage, seats and boardwalk made from the recycled wood of uprooted casuarina trees
- home to about 80 species of birds, some critically endangered
- access the island via bridges from Punggol Promenade and Pasir Ris Coast Industrial Park 6
EASTERN COASTAL : 2 PARKS
Bedok Reservoir Park (41.7ha)
- links Pasir Ris Park to East Coast Park
- Instagram-worthy views of the sea and other water bodies
- paved and dirt running tracks
Changi Beach Park & East Coast Park
- Changi Beach offers walks along sandy beaches amid swaying coconut palms
- many activities along the coastline – the Cyclist Park, the Coastal PlayGrove etc.
WESTERN : 3 PARKS
Pang Sua Park Connector (6 kms)
- a scenic route
- recommended for spotting birds (such as the majestic white-bellied sea eagle)
- two butterfly gardens (you can see the Common Grass Hello and Plain Tiger butterflies)
Bukit Batok Town Park (42ha) along Bukit Batok East Avenue 5
- similar to China’s famous Guilin limestone landscape
- located on an abandoned quarry site
- serene views, meandering footpaths, undulating terrain … a good workout
CENTRAL URBAN : 4 PARKS
Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West (21ha park) along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6
- has a secondary forest
- and a 120 step staircase leading to a plaza with sweeping views of the surrounding areas
- the neighbouring Garden East, with its rubber and nutmeg trees offer reminders of early immigrants who worked in rubber plantations before the area became Ang Mo Kio New Town
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (62ha)
- stunning features, one of which is its naturalised waterway, previously an old concrete canal
- this part of the Kallang River, as part of drainage improvement work, has become a 3km river with grassy banks and a variety of flora and fauna
Toa Payoh Town Park (4.8ha)
- one of Singapore’s oldest satellite towns and popular wedding photography venue in the 1970’s & 80’s
- frequented by joggers, cyclist and leisure walkers
- its Observation Tower was awarded conservation status in 2009
Punggol Park @ Hougang, a 15 minute walk from Hougang or Buangkok MRT stations
- has a 5ha pond, zones for children to play and areas for exercise for older visitors
Thanks to the Straits Times of 29 May 2021, for the feature and information.
