PM Lee opens $76 million Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
AsiaOne
Saturday, Mar 17, 2012
SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today opened Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park including its star highlight - a meandering river running through the park.
The river, originating from the Kallang River and flowing into Marina Reservoir, is carved out of a concrete canal that ran along the 62 ha park.
Besides offering residents a new recreational experience, the river can help to slow the flow of rainwater so that downstream waterways have more time to drain.
This will in turn help to prevent the waterways from overflowing in times of heavy rain.
Local bilingual newspaper, my paper, earlier reported that this is possible because of features such as the river's winding design, as well as vegetation and use of bio-engineered soil along the banks of the river.
The river's capacity is also now 40 per cent more than when it was a canal.
The $76.7-million Bishan Park redevelopment project, by National Parks Board (NParks) and national water agency PUB, has been in the works for over two years. It is part of PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme.
Besides the river, there will also be three playgrounds - with water, adventure and bubble themes - for kids to play at.
Other facilities include two health centres and a spa, as well as four food and beverage outlets such as McDonald's and Cornerstone, a Western fusion cafe.
NParks said that it expects the revamped Bishan Park to receive 3.5 million visits from parkgoers across the island each year, up from three million annual visits before the redevelopment.
[email protected]
AsiaOne
Saturday, Mar 17, 2012
SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today opened Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park including its star highlight - a meandering river running through the park.
The river, originating from the Kallang River and flowing into Marina Reservoir, is carved out of a concrete canal that ran along the 62 ha park.
Besides offering residents a new recreational experience, the river can help to slow the flow of rainwater so that downstream waterways have more time to drain.
This will in turn help to prevent the waterways from overflowing in times of heavy rain.
Local bilingual newspaper, my paper, earlier reported that this is possible because of features such as the river's winding design, as well as vegetation and use of bio-engineered soil along the banks of the river.
The river's capacity is also now 40 per cent more than when it was a canal.
The $76.7-million Bishan Park redevelopment project, by National Parks Board (NParks) and national water agency PUB, has been in the works for over two years. It is part of PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme.
Besides the river, there will also be three playgrounds - with water, adventure and bubble themes - for kids to play at.
Other facilities include two health centres and a spa, as well as four food and beverage outlets such as McDonald's and Cornerstone, a Western fusion cafe.
NParks said that it expects the revamped Bishan Park to receive 3.5 million visits from parkgoers across the island each year, up from three million annual visits before the redevelopment.
[email protected]
Do we need a river?
