Phase 1 of $19m park in Woodlands boasts 400m long jetty and 'sky walk'
Tan Weizhen Straits Times 24 May 10;
THE Woodlands coast took its most significant step yet in its transformation from sleepy industrial area to bustling waterfront promenade yesterday.
Once occupied by warehouses, the waterfront now boasts a modern park with highlights such as a 400m-long jetty - the longest in Singapore - and a playground equipped with a two-storey-high 'sky walk'.
Over 2,500 residents joined Sembawang GRC MP and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health Hawazi Daipi yesterday for the phase one opening of the Woodlands Waterfront.
Phase two of the $19 million, 9ha park - which will feature, among other things, nature trails and a 700m promenade which will hang over the sea - will be opened only by the end of the year.
When fully completed, the 1.5km Woodlands promenade will form a significant part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA's) plan to link the north region's green spaces with park connectors, which by 2015, will stretch to 90km. Currently, the region has 19km of park connectors. URA's national objective is to build a 150km round island route, which will allow residents to walk, cycle or jog around Singapore.
Feedback played a crucial role in designing the Woodlands Waterfront, which offers a green oasis for residents to play, exercise or gather for activities, while enjoying the sea view. Ultimately, the final concept was a marriage of all that the stakeholders - residents, grassroot leaders and designers - wanted.
Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, URA's chief executive officer, said: 'It will bring the scenic northern coastline closer to people and offer more recreational choices, particularly for residents in the north.'
Features that are accessible now include a large event space called Central Spine, where residents can hold community activities, and Singapore's longest jetty.
The jetty, which dates back to the 1920s, has been refurbished and offers a close-up view of Johor Baru.
Jogging, cycling trails and rest areas weave through the promenade, together with a playground featuring a two- storey-high 'sky walk', a mesh bridge which people can climb up and across.
Residents who braved the scorching sun yesterday to enjoy the facilities were rewarded by the great sea view that the new waterfront offers.
Ms Wong Bee Ling, 39, who was there with her husband and children, was delighted with the facilities, especially the children's playground and the jetty.
'I'm pleasantly surprised, I didn't realise there was this spot in Woodlands. The view is nice and I'll be sure to come again in the future,' said the shipping executive, who lives in Woodlands.
Phase one of Woodlands Waterfront opens
Evelyn Choo & Lynda Hong Channel NewsAsia 23 May 10;
SINGAPORE : The northern region of Singapore now has a new leisure destination - Woodlands Waterfront.
And the park's launch on Sunday attracted some 2,500 people.
The park was designed with community-based events in mind.
Phase 1 opened up three hectares of the Woodlands Waterfront. The phased opening was by residents' demand.
"The project was actually planned in close collaboration with... input of the grassroots. Many of the facilities that we have provided were for community purposes," said Ler Seng Ann, group director of Conversation & Development Services with Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
Although only one-third of the park area has been opened, the URA said the main features are already in place.
One is a playground that's not just for children. Youths can also seek thrills at the two-storey Skywalk and crawl through the playground's tree pods.
The waterfront park, which overlooks the Straits of Johor, will also feature a refurbished 400-metre jetty - a reminder that the park used to be occupied by warehouses.
The remaining six hectares of the Woodlands Waterfront will be opened by the end of the year, with features like the Catilevered Promenade, nature area, trails and green spaces.
When fully completed, the Woodlands Waterfront will be linked to the nearby Admiralty Park and the park connector along Woodlands Centre Road and Admiralty West.
The Woodlands Waterfront will also add on to 1.5km of the 150km-Round Island Route, which allows seamless strolling, jogging or cycling around Singapore.
Construction costs of the park and promenade amounted to $19 million. - CNA /ls
New recreational destination at the North with Opening of Woodlands waterfront (Phase 1)
URA media release 23 May 10;
Singaporeans and residents living in the north can now enjoy a new leisure destination with the completion of Phase 1 of the Woodlands Waterfront. Developed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), this latest recreational addition in the north will be handed over to the National Parks Board (NParks) for management and maintenance. It was officially opened today by Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Manpower and MP for Sembawang GRC.
The launch was held in conjunction with a community brisk walk and sports carnival organised by the Sembawang GRC, Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon East SMCs with over 2,500 participants, making it the first ever event to make use of the event plaza at Woodlands Waterfront.
Bringing people closer to the Northern coastline
The Woodlands Waterfront project was first conceived as part of the Parks and Waterbodies Plan exhibited by the URA in 2002. The plan seeks to enhance our green spaces and open up more coastal areas and waterbodies for leisure and recreation purposes. Woodlands Waterfront also forms part of the 150km Round Island Route under URA’s islandwide Leisure Plan announced in 2008, that will eventually allow residents to stroll, jog or cycle around the entire country. The North Region currently has 19km of park connectors and this will be increased to 90km over the next 10 to 15 years.
Feedback from stakeholders, including grassroot leaders and residents were sought and incorporated into the final design concept of Woodlands Waterfront. Phase 1 of Woodlands Waterfront includes a 200m long waterfront promenade and park, a 400m long refurbished jetty that is one of the longest jetties in Singapore, large event plaza and a playground with an attraction that is the first of its kind in Singapore.
Said Chief Executive Officer of URA, Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, “The Woodlands Waterfront is part of URA’s plans to continually enhance our living environment by capitalising on our natural assets and improve the quality of life for Singaporeans. It will bring the scenic northern coastline closer to people and offer more recreational choices, particularly for residents in the North.”
A waterfront attraction for multi-generational bonding
Once a laid-back coastal area occupied by warehouses, the area now offers a variety of recreational opportunities for people of all ages that is conducive for multi-generational bonding. Residents in the north can wind down after a hard day’s work and enjoy a stroll along the waterfront promenade to take in the beautiful sea view, or have a picnic by the lush green park beside the promenade. Fitness buffs can jog along the refurbished jetty and catch spectacular view of the sunrise; or simply enjoy some bonding time with family during the sunset hours.
A breezy stroll at the jetty
Overlooking the Straits of Johor, the refurbished jetty is one of the longest in Singapore, measuring about 400m long and about 12m wide. It can accommodate a wide range of activities such as roller blading, sports activities such as jogging, and various community events such as bazaars. An old shed with a pulley system along the jetty has been converted into a sheltered rest point, giving visitors a glimpse into the past when it was a working jetty.
An event plaza for mass activities
Adjacent to the jetty by the sea is an event plaza. Large-scale community events, such as mass exercise, line dancing or cultural performances can be held at the plaza. From the lookout point at the rooftop of the amenity building by the plaza, visitors can soak in the panoramic views of the waterfront across the Straits of Johor.
A playground that bonds the community
The playground is equipped with various facilities and fitness equipment for residents of all age groups to interact, and is conducive for inter-generational bonding. The adventurous and the young-at-heart will be fascinated by the two-storey high Sky Walk, an attraction that is the first of its kind in Singapore. Adventurous visitors can enjoy this self-contained ‘meshed bridge’ system, crawling from one tree pod to another.
Phase 2 of Woodlands Waterfront will be completed and opened in the second half of the year. When fully completed, the entire Woodlands Waterfront will be a 1.5km long waterfront promenade, which includes a 9-hectare coastal park to support a variety of recreational activities and community events. It will also be linked to Admiralty Park and the park connector along Woodlands Centre Road and Admiralty Road West in future.
Getting to Woodlands Waterfront
Woodlands Waterfront lies slightly north to the junction of Admiralty Road and Admiralty Road West. Members of the public can take bus service 856 which stops at Admiralty Road and walk the remaining distance to the coastal promenade and park, or drive and park at the Woodlands Waterfront carpark.
Please refer to Annex A for more details, or visit www.ura.gov.sg/woodlandswaterfront/