Letter from Seow Joo Heng, Straits Times Forum 27 Feb 08;
I PARTLY agree with Mr Heng Cho Choon in his letter, 'Don't make Jurong Lake another white elephant' (Feb 25). We should ensure the lake does not end up like Tang Dynasty City. But I disagree with his view about the lack of traffic at Chinese Garden or Jurong Lake.
My compliments too to the National Parks Board and Jurong Town Corporation on sprucing up the Jurong Lake area which includes the Chinese and Japanese gardens. I live just across Jurong Town Hall Road which overlooks the lake park.
I am perhaps more informed about the area than Mr Heng who last visited two months ago. Mr Heng also suggested the park is not meaningfully used. That is not true. Every morning, residents go for their morning jog or walk, thanks to the recently completed park connector. My family and I visit the lake area regularly, be it for exercise or leisurely outings. There are many families like ours who do the same because we enjoy the serenity. True, littering is a problem that has to be dealt with along some stretches of the park connector, but that is a different issue.
What is more important is that Jurong Lake maintains its park-like ambience. We should not commercialise it by turning it into a pasar malam (night market) attraction or entertaintment resort like the ones in Johor, Bangkok or Penang, as Mr Heng has suggested.
The lake will lose its serene atmosphere, with the rubbish and pollution such transformations create.
Singaporeans who want a dose of such nightly activities can always find it just round the corner, at Jurong East Central where night markets sprout every other week.
Jurong Lake is a place in Singapore that offers respite from the stresses of daily work. Any future redevelopment should preserve its refreshing
