A natural river in Bishan Park

Channel NewsAsia 15 Feb 12;

SINGAPORE: What used to be a concrete canal in Bishan Park has been transformed into a natural river that will make the community space more vibrant.

The National Park Board (NParks) said on Wednesday that the waterway flows right at the doorsteps of Bishan and Ang Mo Kio.

The project by NParks and national water agency PUB is part of the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme to beautify Singapore's waterscape.

They transformed the section of Kallang River that ran in a canal along the edge of the park into a natural river.

Residents are no longer separated by the canal, improving connectivity to the park.

When water level in the river is low, users can get closer to water and enjoy recreational activities along the river banks.

During heavy rain, the park land next to the river serves as a channel to carry water downstream.

A river monitoring and warning system with water level sensors, warning lights, sirens and audio announcements will provide early warning when heavy rain or rising water levels are expected.

Warning signs, red markers and life buoys have also been put up along the river.

The river monitoring system will trigger warning lights, as well as the siren and audio announcements at safety nodes, to alert park users.

Safety lines with buoys are provided at selected locations, along with CCTVs and round-the-clock patrol surveillance.

"While we want to encourage the community to get close to water, we are also mindful that the safety of the public is paramount. In designing this river with naturalised banks and gentle slopes, we also put in place a series of measures to ensure the safety of park users is not compromised," said Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's Director of Catchment and Waterways.

NParks said the rejuvenated park has new and improved amenities for the community to play, interact and bond.

There are three new playgrounds, a new fast-food outlet and a new restaurant.

There is also the Recycle Hill, which was formed using concrete from the former canal to preserve the park's history and re-use the concrete in a creative way.

Sitting on the hill is an award-winning sculpture by local sculptor Kelvin Lim Fun Kit, called An Enclosure For A Swing.

Assistant Chief Executive Officer of NParks, Mr Kong Yit San, said: "The introduction of a naturalised river has also brought birds, dragonflies, waterhens and little egrets closer to our doorsteps. With the variety of amenities catering to the diverse needs of our park users, we believe that the new Bishan Park will draw visitors from all over, and bring Singapore closer to being a City in a Garden."

- CNA/fa

It's back to 'nature' as canal turns into river
Kezia Toh Straits Times 16 Feb 12;

FLOWING through Bishan Park is a gentle, meandering river.

Its shallow banks are covered with greenery, and herons and egrets have been seen flitting nearby.

Yet only three years ago, this was nothing more than a utilitarian concrete canal.

The 3km waterway has become the first in Singapore to be 'naturalised' as part of the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme. Under this scheme, ordinary drains, canals and reservoirs are turned into attractive streams and lakes.

To make the man-made river in Bishan look natural, scientists used soil bio-engineering techniques for the first time in Singapore. This method, which involves combining plants with engineering, produced features such as river banks covered with greenery and rocks to prevent soil erosion.

The greenery has increased biodiversity in the park by 30 per cent, said Mr Kong Yit San, assistant chief executive of the National Parks Board. It will officially open to the public in the middle of next month, with 3.5 million visits expected per year.

Species such as the purple heron and little egret - a small white bird that fishes in the new river - have been spotted there for the first time, Mr Kong added.

Meanwhile, parkgoers can sit by the shallow banks and dip their toes into the river.

As well as making the area more beautiful, the Bishan Park river provides a flood plain to help store excess stormwater.

In heavy rain, the parkland surrounding it doubles up as a channel to hold the deluge.

This means the man-made river can take 40 per cent more water than the old canal, said the director of 3P Network, the department overseeing strategic communications at water agency PUB. Mr George Madhavan added that it will transport water to the Marina Reservoir.

While designing the river, engineers used simulation models to predict rainfall and the flow of water.

A safety system with water level sensors, lights, sirens and audio announcements will alert parkgoers when heavy rain or rising water levels are expected.

Warning signs, red markers and life buoys are also in place along the river.

There are safety lines at selected locations, along with closed-circuit television cameras and round-the-clock patrols.

The stringent measures are in place because members of the public are allowed in the water, and the park is open 24 hours a day. Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's director of catchment and waterways, said: 'In designing this river with naturalised banks and gentle slopes, we also put in place a series of measures to ensure the safety of park users is not compromised.'

The man-made river is also part of a $76 million collaboration between PUB and the National Parks Board.

Other new features at Bishan Park include three playgrounds, a fast-food eatery and a new restaurant.

A Recycle Hill, made from concrete tiling used in the former canal, preserves the park's history.

S$77m facelift for Bishan Park
Amanda Lee Today Online 16 Feb 12;

SINGAPORE - Bishan Park, one of Singapore's largest public parks, has undergone a S$76.7 million facelift with a 3km-long naturalised river as the centrepiece.

Reshaped from a 2.7km concrete canal, the river was designed based on a floodplain concept, allowing it to store excess storm water and raising its capacity by 40 per cent. During a downpour, the land next to the river serves as a channel to carry water downstream to Marina Reservoir. When the river's water level is low, park users can enjoy recreational activities along the river banks.

NParks assistant chief executive officer Kong Yit San said the revamped Bishan Park "provides a common space for Singaporeans to play, interact and bond". He added: "The introduction of a naturalised river has also brought birds, dragonflies, waterhens and little egrets closer to our doorsteps."

Several safety measures have been installed along the river: A monitoring and warning system, which consists of water level sensors, warning lights, sirens and audio announcements, are placed along the river to provide early warning in the event of impending heavy rain or rising water levels. Warning signs, red markers and life buoys have been put up. Safety lines with buoys are provided at selected locations, along with CCTV cameras and round-the-clock patrol surveillance.

Three playgrounds, each with a different theme, have been added to the 62ha park. There are six event lawns for community events, a riverside gallery for outdoor performances and more F&B outlets.

There is the Recycle Hill, which was formed using concrete from the former canal to preserve the park's history. Sitting on the hill is an award-winning sculpture by local sculptor Kelvin Lim Fun Kit, called An Enclosure For A Swing.

While the park will be officially opened in the middle of next month, visitors can already access most of the new amenities. A Bishan resident who was at the park yesterday said: "The park is greener, nicer and much more spacious for joggers now."