Tampines butterfly garden to undergo expansion

LEE YEN NEE Today Online 17 May 15;

SINGAPORE — The Republic’s sole butterfly garden within a housing estate will double in size next year, as part of a S$1.5 million upgrading project announced today (May 17) by Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC, Ms Irene Ng.

The garden, located next to Block 124 Tampines Street 11, will be expanded from 132.5 sqm to 267 sqm to include a raised observation deck for visitors as well as educational panels on butterflies and waterfall features. Outside the enclosure, a community plaza will be built for activities such as yoga and qigong.

Ms Ng, who had pushed for the garden’s launch in 2011, said: “I took a personal interest in developing the new plans for the butterfly garden and am glad to see so much support for it, not only from our own residents, but also from nature lovers from all over the island. When completed, the upgraded Butterfly Garden will be an iconic landmark in Tampines.”

Besides the upgrading of the garden, Ms Ng today also shared other plans for the estate, including a 1km cycling track along Tampines Street 11 that residents can take to the Tampines Round Market, neighbourhood shops as well as the butterfly garden. Construction is expected to be completed by September.

More greenery will also be added to the area by the fourth quarter of this year, in the form of small pockets of linear gardens lining both sides of the street.

Ms Ng also said Blocks 124 to 127, 138 and 139 on Tampines Street 11 will undergo the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. Residents of the affected blocks will first be consulted for ideas and suggestions on how to improve the estate, which can include adding new features such as a children’s playground, fitness corner or new letter boxes.