Despite Singapore being a dense city-state, it boasts charming pockets of greenery scattered around — thankfully. And, as it seems that space is running tight, a new park has just sprung up in Woodleigh.

The Bidadari Park is located within the Bidadari estate and one thing you should know about this park is that it’s huge.

Covering more than ten percent of the estate land, Bidadari Park spans over 18 football fields and features a sprawling network of trails that extends over five-kilometres.

But this is no ordinary park. It’s a special one that’s inspired by Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood forest. Is it as magical as the storybook forest? You be the judge.

Parents with little ones, you’ll want to make a beeline for Adventure Playwoods — a 4,500 square metre playground with a five-metre tall treehouse taking centre stage.

Children and those young at heart will surely delight in the climbing nets, slides of varying heights, a zip line and many more.

For those wanting something more peaceful and to take in the view of the surroundings, head on over to the Tembusu or Open Lawns.

These two spaces offer a serene retreat for parents to relax on the lounge chairs while their little ones run around (don’t worry, they’ll still be within eyeshots!).

They can also hold events and community activities, such as group workouts, sports classes, meetups and many more.

Since bird watching and photography are increasingly popular among the younger crowd (it’s no longer just middle-aged men and retirees!), Singapore now has our very first and only bird nest platform.

It stands 20-metre tall, allowing you to have an unobstructed view of migratory land birds and raptors like the white-bellied sea eagle.

Animal lovers, you’ll be glad to know that this platform doubles as a resting zone and safe spot for them.

Another highlight of the park is Alkaff Lake. I’m no math expert but let’s just say this lake is so massive that it could easily fit 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water.

That’s because it functions as a stormwater retention pond, preventing the estate from getting flooded during heavy rainfall.

Guess what makes Bidadari Park even sweeter? If you’re living in the new BTOs — Woodleigh Glen and Woodleigh Hillside, you’ve got a scenic 100-metre bridge decked out in flora and fauna, leading you straight into the park.

And, don’t be surprised if some friendly butterflies and birds decide to join you on a stroll.

Do you feel like channeling your inner Christopher Robin and diving into this whimsical forest?

Bidadari Park
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This piece of highly-anticipated news comes following NParks’ overall plan to curate a 360km island-wide network of recreational routes, comprising park connectors and trails.

Part of the longest recreational connection network in Singapore, Phase 1 covers the eastern half of Singapore, from Rower’s Bay Park in the northeast, all the way past the Singapore River to Berlayer Creek in the south.

Some key parks that you’ll spot along the way include Sengkang Riverside Park, Pasir Ris Park, Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park. So whether you’re cycling or deciding to take a long hike, you will also be able to hop onto the route at any of these parks.

Should you feel tired along the way, rest assured that there’ll be rest stops for you to take a break at, or even pack along a picnic to enjoy with your friends and loved ones under any one of these newly constructed shelters.

Some features to look out for include the cycling bridges and boardwalk at Changi Bay, as well as the picturesque Sengkang Riverside Bridge, one of the largest bridges connecting the banks of Sungei Punggol across the canal.

Also, look out for the array of wildlife, flora and fauna along the way, such as coastal trees like the Penega Laut, and animals such as the White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Fiddler crabs (Uca spp) and Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata). Not gonna lie, we’re particularly excited about spotting the latter.

Find out more about the Round Island Route here.

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New Bukit Gombak Park with recreational facilities

Designed to provide its surrounding residents with a tranquil area, the new Bukit Gombak Park is ideal for a short hike away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Visitors can climb the 400m-looped hill trek which includes a flight of 108 steps. You may be huffing by the end of the route, but once you reach the top, you’re in for a panoramic view of the surrounding forest and greenery.

Reach the highest point of the new Bukit Gombak Park and you’ll enter the Butterfly Garden, where plenty of butterfly-attracting plants have been planted. Over here, there are more than 20 species of butterflies to be found.

If you’re not a fan of butterflies, head over to the Dog Run area instead. Spanning 480 square metres, doggos are allowed to run unleashed in this area and test out the endurance of their zoomies on the sloped terrain. 

For families with young children, there’s a play area in the park with a 5.3-metre long slide. Play equipment such as balancing beams and climbing steps are also in place, guaranteed to tire out even the most restless of children. 

In 2020, COVID-19 birthed a huge number of home bakers and green thumbs. To cater to the growing interest of avid gardeners, the new Bukit Gombak Park has 120 gardening plots for the community to grow fruits and vegetables —we’re looking forward to local fresh produce!

Other recreational features include an open lawn and an outdoor fitness area, perfect for picnic dates or some exercise. 

If you’re feeling peckish after your hike, head to Whisk & Paddle, a glasshouse cafe built for visitors of the new Bukit Gombak Park. 

The cafe serves an extensive menu of western food and homemade pastries, with offerings such as Prawns Macaroni and Cheese (S$19.80), Fresh Clams in White Wine Sauce (S$14.80), and even delectable finger food like Sweet Potato Fries (S$12.80). 

With so many amenities in the park, it looks like the Westies are in for a treat.

Find out more about the park here. 

New Bukit Gombak Park
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Former Big Splash site

The former iconic Big Splash water theme park at East Coast Park ceased operations in 2006 and was redeveloped into a dining and lifestyle destination, Playground @ Big Splash up until 2016. 

The government started the redevelopment work for Coastal PlayGrove in 2017 as part of the efforts to rejuvenate East Coast Park. 

Coastal PlayGrove features

In a bid to redistribute crowds around the park, the 48 hectares Coastal PlayGrove features many play areas such as the Outdoor Classroom by the Sea, Nature Playgarden and the 16m tall outdoor play tower. 

16-metres tall outdoor play tower with slides and vertical challenges

A reconstruction of the former Big Splash tower, this 16-metres tall outdoor play tower features two enclosed tube slides and a vertical challenge play area. 

The tube slides are located on the third and fourth floor of the tower and are 7.3 metres and 11.9 metres tall respectively. This feature is perhaps the perfect reminiscence of the former iconic Big Splash slides. 

Open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 8am to 8pm, the four-storey Vertical Challenge is a vertical net play area with numerous rope-based obstacles suitable for youngsters above 13 years old. 

Activities in Vertical Challenge include stepping pods, hammocks, hoop maze, zig-zag bridge, ball step traverse, wobble link, grip wall, wave traverse, and disc swings.

For young visitors aged five to 12 years old, they can climb and explore the Leisure Nets located at the base of the tower. 

Water play area 

To beat the heat while exploring Coastal PlayGrove, consider bringing your child to the water playing area right beside the tower. The wading pool is connected by a stream of water jets that light up at night, so your child would definitely have a splashing’ good time. 

The wheelchair-accessible water play area is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 8am to 8pm for children aged five to 12 years old. 

Nature Playgarden 

Suitable for children aged three to 12 years old, Nature Playgarden enables children to play in an environment that is immersed in nature. Natural materials such as wood, sand, and gravel are used in this play area. 

There are three themed sections to introduce children to different habitats. The first section would be the bamboo tunnel trail which evokes a sense of mystery. The second section aims to mimic native forest habitats which include log trails, teepees, and a mix of exotic shrubs that attract butterflies. The last section would be a trail that leads to the Sand Pit with a balancing board as a play element for the children. 

Outdoor Classroom by the Sea

NParks’ first outdoor classroom by the sea is designed for preschoolers. The outdoor classroom is decked with a chalkboard, boulders and log stools, complete with a view of the sea. 

There are various fruit trees planted in the area for children to observe. An old hornbill’s nest with an artificial nest box has also been installed in the Yellow Flame tree. 

Sand Pit

Adjacent to the outdoor classroom by the sea, this sand pit can also be found at the last section of the nature playgarden trail. 

Event Lawn

Coastal PlayGrove’s 0.95 hectares of open lawn support sports activities and large-scale events with a capacity of 5000 pax. Venue booking for the lawn remains suspended until further notice. 

Coastal PlayGrove by NParks
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???? East Coast Park, Area B 

Check out these 53 Supper Spots in Singapore — a mega list for the insomniacs in 2021 to satisfy your midnight cravings.

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