Nature to the fore at Jurong Lake Gardens

NG JING YNG Today Online 26 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — The Republic’s third national garden is shaping up to be a distinct green lung in the west, with hues of pink from tropical cherry blossom trees, water features and even an island for native herons.

Construction of the western part of the Jurong Lake Gardens will begin next year and is slated for completion in 2018, a year later than originally scheduled in order to incorporate public feedback.

The entire gardens is 90ha in area, or about 144 football fields, and the western part, which is mainly the area surrounding the lake, is the largest portion at 60ha. In comparison, Singapore’s first two national gardens, the Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, are 74ha and 101ha, respectively.

Speaking at a tree-planting event in Jurong Lake Gardens today (Oct 25), Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratam announced the findings from the public engagement exercise for the gardens’ development. Some 17,700 suggestions were collected between April and May.

“The common theme ... is to retain the natural ambience of the park,” he said. “What the National Parks Board (NParks) is going to do is to have a lot more nature than what we already have today.”

To this end, trees such as the Malayan Crepe Myrtle that were planted today, known as tropical versions of the pink cherry blossom trees, “will add a very nice tinge to the western side of the park in a few years’ time”, he noted.

NParks has also been doing hydrological studies to better tap the natural feature of the lake. It will work with national water agency PUB to prevent the lake from being dirtied by silt during heavy rain, and will look into providing for sporting activities.

And a “heron island” will be created to retain these birds, Mr Tharman added. Commenting on how Jurong Lake Gardens will be unique, he said: “It’s a combination of the heritage of the Chinese and Japanese gardens, the lake and distinctive trees all along the lake.”

Today, NParks also announced that there will be a community garden and split pedestrian-cyclist tracks in Jurong Lake Gardens, while activities like the Mid-Autumn Festival will continue alongside new features such as “affordable” eateries.

The western part of the gardens will be kept closed over the next two years. More work is required for its design and to ensure the public’s views are considered fully, said Mr Tharman. The Chinese and Japanese gardens, however, will remain open with special pathways for people to get there, he added. Among other suggestions that might be seen in Jurong Lake Gardens, depending on the final design, are robotic plants for educational purposes, solar phone chargers and vertical greenery. About half of the respondents wanted Wi-Fi hotspots. Others proposed bike rental stations and also hope to be involved in conducting guided tours.

The other portions of the gardens — the central parts that include the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, and the eastern parts that consist of the new Science Centre — will be progressively completed from 2020.

Tenders for the construction of the western part of the gardens will be called at year end so work can begin on amenities such as shelters and play areas. The tender for the design of the entire gardens will be called in the next phase of development to consider inputs such as F&B outlets.

Said Mr Tharman: “(Jurong Lake Gardens) is really going to be a beautiful place ... a large and beautiful park in Singapore located in the west.”


Jurong Lake Gardens to be a 'people's garden'
Yeo Sam Jo, The Straits Times AsiaOne 26 Oct 15;

The upcoming Jurong Lake Gardens will have features such as cycling tracks, a community gardening area and food-and-beverage outlets - ideas gathered during public consultations earlier this year.

Other suggestions to be implemented include the preserving of biodiversity hot spots, the planting of seasonal flowering trees that resemble sakura blossoms and the provision of play and fitness areas.

Existing heritage structures such as pagodas and bridges in the Chinese and Japanese Gardens will also be retained, the National Parks Board (NParks) said yesterday.

More than 17,700 ideas were received from April to May during public engagements such as focus groups, townhalls and online surveys.

As a result of including the most recent public feedback, construction for the west side of the 90ha gardens, which will start next year, is expected to be completed by 2018 instead of 2017 as previously announced, said NParks.

"There's more work required both in design and ensuring that the residents' views and feedback are taken into account fully," said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a tree-planting event at Jurong Lake Park yesterday.

"This is going to be a people's garden, so it is really great that we got so many views from the public," added Mr Tharman, who is also an MP for Jurong GRC. "It's our third national gardens - it's very important that it reflects what people want, what they like to see, what they like to feel in the gardens."

The two other national gardens are the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay.

The Jurong Lake Gardens, about the size of 144 football fields, will comprise three parts: Jurong Lake Gardens West, Central and East.

The west side is currently Jurong Lake Park, while the central area will consist of the Chinese and Japanese Gardens. The east side will house the new Science Centre.

Parts of the west side will remain open to the public during its construction and special pathways will let the public continue accessing the Chinese and Japanese Gardens before development works there begin. The central and east parts of the gardens will be progressively ready from 2020.

A design consultancy tender for the gardens will be called and NParks will include the public feedback received in the tender brief.

Other ideas that may be implemented include robotic plants, vertical greenery, Wi-Fi hot spots and solar phone chargers.

Mr Tharman noted that there was a very strong public preference to retain the area's natural ambience, and that the new gardens will have "a lot more nature" such as distinctive trees and a heron island.

Plans for the Jurong Lake Gardens are part of a larger transformation of the Jurong Lake District - the largest regional hub outside the city centre. Public transport systems such as road and rail will be enhanced to support the area's development.

Lakeside resident and childcare teacher Jaslyn Goh, 43, said she is looking forward to the fitness and play corners. Said the avid jogger and mother of three: "It's good to have a playground for kids while their parents exercise, so the children won't be bored."