Park and touch
A new $3.5m park in Toa Payoh is Singapore's first sensory park that lets you use the five senses
tay suan chiang, Straits Times 3 Oct 09;
A new park in Toa Payoh is more than just a pretty sight. Called the Toa Payoh Sensory Park, the 1.1ha expanse of green in Lorong 5 encourages visitors to get in touch with all five senses.
Well, almost all - you are not allowed to taste any of the plants.
The HDB developed the $3.5-million park on a formerly vacant plot of land. It is Singapore's first sensory park. Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, opens it officially tomorrow.
Local architectural firm Surbana International worked on the park over two years with Japanese landscape architect Yoshisuke Miyake, who pioneered the concept in Japan.
He said in an earlier report that, 'people get more passive as they grow older and to have things around you to stimulate your senses is very soothing and has healing qualities'.
The park is divided into five zones.
In the Touch Zone, visitors feel the leaves and barks of various plants and children can stick their hands into the cool streams of a water feature.
In the Hear Zone, 'sections of the path are paved with recycled wood or metal sheets, so children can stomp on them to experiment with sound', says Ms Maria Boey, vice-president of architecture at Surbana.
In the See Zone, the eyes feast on colourful flora, such as ixora and jasmine. In the Smell zone, it could be love at first whiff with sweet-smelling plants such as the wrightia.
Unfortunately, there is no tasting in the Taste Zone. Grown here are plants that are commonly used in the kitchen. These include various herbs, aloe vera and ladies' fingers.
'We hope the residents will appreciate the greens and not pluck them,' says Ms Boey, who adds that some people have already done so, undeterred by security cameras.
Besides giving the senses a treat, the park is also designed to be handicapped-friendly. The gentle terrain and flat walkways make it easy to manoeuvre strollers and wheelchairs. There are also kerbs along the main path to guide the visually impaired.
The park also boasts a playground and an exercise area. Even before its official opening, it is already a hit with residents.
Housewife May Lee, 35, enjoys taking her five-year-old son to the playground. 'He gets to run around and touch the plants and water,' she says.
Retiree Tan Cheng Heng, 65, goes there twice a day. He says: 'In the morning, I go there to chat with friends, and in the evening, I'm there to do some exercises.'
