SINGAPORE: Five existing playgrounds in four towns, namely Toa Payoh, Pasir Ris, Woodlands and Choa Chu Kang will be rejuvenated with the help of residents and their community, announced the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Sunday (Jan 7).
Following the successful pilot of HDB’s Build-A-Playground (BAP) initiative at Canberra estate in Sembawang, which saw residents coming together to co-create a playground for their estate, the BAP will be extended to four other HDB towns under estate renewal plans.
The existing playgrounds, located at Woodlands Admiral Garden, Seashell Park, Tembusu Park and the neighbourhood parks at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, will be rejuvenated under estate renewal plans such as HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme and the Town Councils’ Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP).
Engagement activities with residents for the planning of the new playground at Tembusu Park will begin this year.
CANBERRA OPENS FIRST COMMUNITY-BUILT PLAYGROUND
The announcement comes after the Adventure Playground @ Canberra, a pilot project under the BAP initiative, was declared open by Minister for National Development & Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong on Sunday.
File photo of Adventure Playground @ Canberra. (Photo: Vanessa Lim)
Located at the Canberra estate in Sembawang, the 185 sqm treehouse-and-kelong inspired playground was co-created by some 1,800 people, including residents and students from nearby schools.
It was conceptualised after gathering feedback from the community through various engagement activities. Residents had suggested the kelong (fishing jetties) theme as they wanted it to reflect the heritage of Sembawang, which used to be dotted with fishing villages and kelongs.
Speaking at the event, Mr Wong said opportunities to further expand the BAP initiative to more HDB estates across Singapore will continue to be explored.
“(While) the playground design evolves, one thing we’ve learnt is that the most important aspect of a playground is not just the design but the process. How residents come together to design it and to take ownership of it. When you take ownership of it, you take pride in it,” said Mr Wong.
