If children could have their say, Singapore would become ...

Today Online 5 Jun 09;

A GIANT tree village at Marina Bay, a sandcastle museum at Changi Beach, and more rollerblading spots for students to blade or ride the skate scooter to school. And a Singapore Flyer run by solar power.

These are some of the big ideas from the little minds that make up the smales Government, a “children’s nation” established by Ikea for children aged between four and 10 years old.

Other proposals include wider HDB corridors so each household can have a little garden as well as fish and vegetable farms on Pulau Ubin for the public to enjoy.

“Children should be more involved because this is our home and we should have more inputs from the young people,” said “Play Minister” Janis Guee, 8.

The ideas to make Singapore an even more “lovable city” to live in were put forward after smales’ “ministers” reviewed the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Singapore Master Plan 2008.

They were presented to URA’s Chief Planner Lim Eng Hwee last month.

“Some of the ideas ... are very creative and others are simple but they make big sense and impact on our quality of life,” said Mr Lim.

The ideas are featured at URA’s My Endearing Home, a travelling exhibition from June to August.