A total of 200 trees were planted at the Balam and Pelton Canal Park Connectors to mark the 25th anniversary of Singapore's Park Connector Network.
Loke Kok Fai Channel NewsAsia 20 Sep 15;
SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) on Sunday (Sep 20) marked the 25th anniversary of the Park Connector Network (PCN) in Singapore, with the planting of 200 trees at Balam and Pelton Canal Park Connectors by members of the community including schools, corporate organisations and residents of MacPherson.
The island-wide network of green links improve connectivity to major parks, nature sites and housing estates in Singapore, by taking advantage of drainage and road reserve land.
Over the years, the network has stretched to more than 300km in length. It has also evolved beyond its initial function of connecting parks, and now sports facilities such as bicycle-wheeling channels along overhead bridges along the routes.
In a blog post, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said it was heartening that the community has developed a strong sense of ownership towards the PCN, such that successive National Development Ministers have embraced and enhanced it.
"Our park connectors have become well-loved green spaces. Volunteers have organised guided rides and cycle-in movies to liven up the PCN," wrote Mr Khaw.
"Cycling group LoveCycling SG has bicycle maintenance workshops and cycling sessions. PCN advocates like Mr Han Jok Kwang have provided many suggestions to improve the PCN, and initiated fund-raising activities to support these improvements. He described his initiatives as good old kampung 'gotong royong'."
NEW PARK CONNECTOR IN HOUGANG
On Sunday, a new park connector along Hougang Avenue 3 was also launched to link the Punggol waterways down to the Marina Bay area.
It is the last stretch of the Central Urban Loop, and also the latest addition to the island-wide network of park connectors that forms part of NParks' "City in a Garden" vision.
With the completion of the Hougang Avenue 3 park connector in August, residents of Hougang and MacPherson now have seamless access to the Central Urban Loop. The 36km loop stretches from Lower Pierce Reservoir to Punggol Waterways and leads into the city via the Kallang Park Connector.
NParks said these connectors make efficient use of the space running alongside road and drainage reserves, in densely populated areas such as Aljunied, Serangoon and Paya Lebar.
Said NParks Director of Parks Development, Yeo Meng Tong: "The challenges we face are always about the surrounding infrastructure, which are already there.
“So, we have to be careful to make sure that the utilisation of this reserve land is well integrated with the surroundings, so that the residents and the people around it (who are) working there as well can have easy access to the park connectors, which lead them to better connections to our parks, or other leisure activities."
He added that some challenges include the installing of wheel gutters instead of wider bicycle ramps, to aid cyclists up overhead bridges.
According to Mr Khaw, the PCN is still "growing strong," with an additional 30km of Park Connectors to be completed in Ang Mo Kio, Lorong Halus, and Ulu Pandan over the next three years. NParks aims to eventually grow the PCN to 360km long by 2020.
NParks also announced that 5,500 trees are being planted across the island from Aug 1 to Oct 31, as part of Clean and Green SG50. The initiative will involve an estimated 20,000 people in planting more than 100 species of trees along parks, park connectors and Nature Ways, and highlights how greenery has become an integral part of Singaporeans' lives.
- CNA/xk
NParks launches new 36km park connector
FRANCIS MICAH LAW Today Online 21 Sep 15;
SINGAPORE — The National Parks Board (NParks) marked 25 years of the birth of its Park Connector Network (PCN) with the launch yesterday (Sept 20) of the new Central Urban Loop at the Pelton Park Connector.
The 36-kilometre loop was completed after the addition of the 4.4-km Hougang Ave 3 Park Connector this month, and is the fifth loop in NParks’ plan to have seven PCN loops.
In a blog post, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said that in the next three years, an additional 30km of park connectors will be completed in Ang Mo Kio, Lorong Halus, and Ulu Pandan.
The latest loop gives visitors easier access to popular spots such as Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Punggol Waterway Park. The Hougang Ave 3 Park Connector also provides a direct link to the North-Eastern Riverine Loop for Hougang and Macpherson residents, and to the Eastern Coastal Loop for Punggol residents.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority is now working with consultants to minimise several obstacles along the Kallang Park Connector, such as overhead bridges, which requires cyclists to dismount and push their bicycles.
While bicycle gutters have been added, older visitors might find the process challenging. Visitors can, however, use alternative routes along the loop for a smoother journey to their destination. “Our park connectors have become well-loved green spaces. Volunteers have organised guided rides and cycle-in movies to liven up the PCN,” Mr Khaw noted.
NParks has now hit its goal of 300km of Park Connectors five years ahead of time. It aims to reach the next target of 370 km by 2020 as part of the Government’s Land Transport Masterplan, which foresees a 700-km PCN by 2030. NParks has also begun plans for an Island-wide Loop that snakes along the coast of Singapore in the near future.
Park connectors reach 300km at 25-year mark
Zhaki Abdullah and Jalelah Abu Baker AsiaOne 21 Sep 15;
In 1992, then Minister for National Development S. Dhanabalan planted a tembusu tree at Kallang Park Connector to mark the birth of the Park Connector Network.
Yesterday, the length of these connectors in Singapore reached 300km, with the launch of the Central Urban Loop.
In a blog post yesterday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said: "Our park connectors have become well-loved green spaces." He added that it is heartening that the community has developed a strong sense of ownership towards them.
Residents in Hougang will now be able to cycle directly to Punggol and Kallang, thanks to the completion of the new Hougang Avenue 3 Park Connector.
Construction of the 4.3km park route began last year and it completes the 36km Central Urban Loop, the fifth loop in the Park Connector Network (PCN).
It links the existing North Eastern Riverine and Eastern Coastal loops, allowing residents in Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Serangoon improved access to attractions such as the East Coast and Punggol Waterway parks.
"I'm interested in exploring the new Central Urban Loop," said Sengkang resident Woon Wai Meng, 38. The media engineer, who is an avid cyclist, added that he looks forward to more of the park connectors being linked together across the island.
Another two loops, the Southern Ridges and Central Nature, are currently in the planning stages.
Also in the works is the Round Island Route, which will circle around Singapore and link up with the other PCN loops.
In his blog post, Mr Khaw said that in the next three years, another 30km of park connectors will be completed in Ang Mo Kio, Lorong Halus and Ulu Pandan.
The PCN has expanded from a 5km stretch linking Bishan Park to Braddell Road in 1992 to a 300km network connecting parks, nature sites and housing estates around the island.
The National Parks Board (NParks) works together with other agencies, including town councils and the Land Transport Authority, to improve the PCN experience for users, such as by integrating park connectors with existing facilities like exercise areas and playgrounds and improving accessibility for cyclists.
The network is expected to expand to 360km by 2020.
The opening of the Central Urban Loop coincides with the 25th anniversary of the conception of the PCN in 1990.
NParks marked the occasion with an event held yesterday afternoon at the MacPherson Community Club.
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Mr Dhanabalan were in attendance. Also present was Japanese landscape architect Junichi Inada, who conceptualised the park connectors in 1987 while working at NParks.
He presented his idea in a report, which was later picked up by the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Mr Inada said: "My concept has been realised. I am very honoured, and I am most happy that people are using the PCN."
Mr Kenneth Er, NParks' chief executive, said: "The park connectors are the green veins of our city in a garden, connecting our communities to our parks and providing myriad recreational options for many."
Additional reporting by Jalelah Abu Baker
