8 parks fully connected in western Singapore

Channel NewsAsia 25 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE: A wide range of exciting recreational experiences awaits residents in western Singapore, following the completion of the Western Adventure Park Connector Network (PCN).

The 23km PCN joins eight parks in western Singapore, namely Choa Chu Kang Park, Villa Verde Park, Zhenghua Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park, Limbang Park and Bukit Panjang Park.

Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong officially launched the Western Adventure PCN on Sunday as part of Clean and Green Singapore.

Mr Gan, who is also the MP for Chua Chu Kang, walked a 1.8km scenic stretch of Pang Sua Park Connector with 1,000 residents, accompanied by MPs for Hong Kah GRC, Dr Amy Khor and Mr Alvin Yeo.

The Western Adventure PCN caters to users ranging from the adventure-seekers to the nature lovers and families.

For the adventure-seekers, they can go mountain biking at Zhenghua Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park, rock climbing at Dairy Farm Quarry and hiking at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Zhenghua Park.

For the nature lovers, the Western Adventure PCN offers them opportunities to spot butterflies and birds like the singing Zebra Dove, the Tiger Shrike (a winter visitor with tiger-like black bars pattern) and the Oriental White-eye which is characterised by a white ring around the eye. Over 10 species of butterflies and 50 species of birds have been sighted along the PCN.

The Western Adventure PCN is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, a result of the 550 species of trees which have been planted at various stretches along the PCN.

To promote awareness of the rich biodiversity of birds, NParks will work with Nature Society to conduct bird-watching activities at the PCN.

For the shutter bugs, there are scenic lookouts at the Bukit Batok Town Park, which is also known as 'Little Guilin', and Bukit Batok Nature Park.

Regional parks, such as Choa Chu Kang Park, offer family-oriented facilities such as playgrounds and fitness corners.

The Western Adventure PCN is the second loop of park connectors to be completed, after the Eastern Coastal PCN in December 2007.

Five more loops of park connectors are in the pipeline. Once completed, the park connectors will form a green matrix, connecting major parks and nature sites and providing users with a choice of landscapes and distances for recreation.

- CNA/ir


Eight Parks in western Singapore now fully connected - Western Adventure PCN is the 2nd loop of park connectors to be completed
NParks media release 25 Oct 09;

Singapore, 25 October 2009 - Residents in western Singapore can look forward to a wide array of exciting recreational experiences, with the completion of the Western Adventure Park Connector Network (PCN).

The 23km PCN joins eight parks in western Singapore, namely Choa Chu Kang Park, Villa Verde Park, Zhenghua Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park, Limbang Park and Bukit Panjang Park.

It is the second loop of park connectors to be completed, after the Eastern Coastal PCN in December 2007. Five more loops of park connectors are in the pipeline. Once completed, the park connectors will form a green matrix, connecting major parks and nature sites and providing users with a choice of landscapes and distances for recreation.

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower and MP for Chua Chu Kang SMC, officially launched the Western Adventure PCN today as part of Clean and Green Singapore. He walked a 1.8 km scenic stretch of Pang Sua Park Connector with 1,000 residents, accompanied by MPs for Hong Kah GRC, Dr Amy Khor and Mr Alvin Yeo.

Diverse range of adventures and experiences along PCN

The Western Adventure PCN offers a diverse range of recreational experiences, to cater to all types of users, from adventure-seekers to nature lovers and families. Some of the activities include:

For Adventure-Seekers
- Mountain biking at Zhenghua Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park
- Rock Climbing at Dairy Farm Quarry
- Hiking at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Zhenghua Park

For Nature Enthusiasts & Photographers
- Scenic lookouts at Bukit Batok Town Park ('Little Guilin') and Bukit Batok Nature Park
- Bird Watching & photography along Bukit Panjang Park Connector, Zhenghua Park and Bukit Batok Nature Park.
- Butterfly spotting along Pang Sua Park Connector

For Families
- Regional parks, such as Choa Chu Kang Park, offer family-oriented facilities such as playgrounds and fitness corners
- Learning about a slice of Singapore's history along Hillview Park Connector (where the Ford Motor factory is a short distance away)
- Wallace Education Centre and nature trail at Dairy Farm Nature Park
- Leisure activities along Pang Sua Park Connector

Rich biodiversity along Western Adventure PCN

The Western Adventure PCN is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, a result of the 550 species of butterfly and birds-attracting trees which have been planted at various stretches along the PCN. They include Pang Sua, Choa Chu Kang, Choa Chu Kang North and Bukit Panjang Park Connectors.

Over 10 species of butterflies and 50 species of birds have been sighted along the PCN. The birds include the singing Zebra Dove; the Tiger Shrike, a winter visitor with tiger-like black bars pattern; and the Oriental White-eye which is characterised by a white ring around the eye. To promote awareness of the rich biodiversity of birds, NParks will be working with Nature Society to conduct bird watching activities for Singapore residents at the PCN.

PCN Programme on Track

Implemented by NParks, the PCN is an island-wide network of linear open spaces around major residential areas, linking up parks and nature sites in Singapore. It brings people closer to parks and nature areas, enhancing recreational opportunities for all and is an important part of our plans to evolve Singapore into a "City in a Garden."

To date, over 110km of park connectors have been completed, with 63km currently in construction. The PCN implementation programme is on track. By 2015, NParks aims to develop a 300km island-wide network of green corridors around the island.

PCN Friends - Active Citizenry in Action

To keep PCN users updated and engaged on activities and latest happenings along our park connectors, NParks has formed a group in late 2008 called 'PCN Friends'. NParks has sought feedback from the group members on ensuring that there is sufficient signage along our park connectors. Selected group members were also invited to test-out selective stretches of the Western Adventure PCN earlier this year.

Since 2007, NParks has establishing a common identity for PCN to guide and inform users through standardised signboards, directional signs, PCN streetprints and destination markers.