Environmental Improvements

Where can you immerse yourselves in rich flora and fauna, come close to some of the last remaining mangroves on the mainland, take in mesmerising coastal views, check out historic bungalows, and hop straight to eating hotspots or back to the city?

Residents can expect a new civic centre to be built at the former Malay Village site in Geylang Serai by 2016. The centre will stand out as a contemporary building, yet culturally distinct in terms of design and architecture. Improvements to the neighbourhood will include a widened walkway and enhanced street infrastructure along Geylang Road.

Punggol Point now has a new park at what used to be a popular seafood haunt in the past. It was officially opened on 20 Nov 2011, together with the 1.2 km Punggol Point Walk. Both are part of the Punggol Promenade.

Plans include preservation of Malay cultural heritage

1,000 residents brisk walk to mark the opening of Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters at Lorong Halus Wetland and Punggol Promenade (Riverside Walk)

Singaporeans will soon have another seaside recreational destination to enjoy along the northeast coastline with the completion of the Punggol Promenade at the end of this year. In fact, residents are now one step closer to enjoying the beautiful riverside as the first phase of the project ? Riverside Walk at Punggol Promenade - was launched with much fanfare on 5 Mar 2011.

More of the northern coastline can now be enjoyed with the entire Woodlands Waterfront completed. The 9 ha coastal park and a 1.5 km long waterfront promenade with high vantage points and undulating terrain with adventurous trails, is already fast becoming popular with residents, families and photography enthusiasts.

Besides lunching and shopping at the famous Holland Village, one can enjoy new cosy green spaces soon. Located at the junction of Holland Road and Holland Avenue, a new community park will serve as an inviting entrance to Holland Village, adding to the vibrancy of this bustling enclave.

Locals and tourists can look forward to the completion of brand new multi-functional lamp posts, improved floor finishes and widened pedestrian walkways for Little India as a result of an inter-agency government taskforce effort led by URA.

Residents of Upper Serangoon may recall with fondness the famous Lim Tua Tow Road, the popular hokkien mee and mee rebus at the former Simon Road Market or the lively street festivals that took place in the past. Now, these memories have been brought alive with URA's latest walkway and heritage trail along Upper Serangoon Road.

URA has been conferred the prestigious Urban Land Institute (ULI) Global Awards for Excellence 2010 for its transformation and development of the Southern Ridges, a 9 km-long chain of green, open spaces spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park, before ending at West Coast Park.

Official opening held in conjunction with The New Paper Big Walk @ Marina Bay and weekend carnival

More than 20,000 Singaporeans were among the first to stroll through Singapore?s most exciting waterfront promenade at Marina Bay when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opened it on 18 Jul 2010. With cool mists, delightful fountains, stunning panoramic views and beautifully sculpted artworks, the new promenade offers yet another opportunity for all to experience more of Marina Bay.

Come 2012, Singaporeans will have one more new leisure destination to enjoy along the southern waterfront, with the completion of URA?s Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk. For the first time, the walk will open up currently inaccessible mangrove areas and coastal areas at Bukit Chermin, offering a wonderful mix of hills, mangroves and coastlines all in a day.

Visitors can now enjoy more of Marina Bay with the new waterfront promenade opened.

URA has been working steadily to make Singapore into one of the world?s most liveable cities. The findings from two recent surveys are proof that our efforts are paying off. At the annual URA Corporate Plan Seminar on 30 Apr 2010, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan shared the findings and spelt out the ingredients for Singapore to grow into a city with soul.

Over the years, URA has taken on environmental improvement projects to create a pleasant streetscape for pedestrians while enhancing the identity of various localities. You can look forward to more coastal getaways and recreational options in the near future.

It is hard to imagine that this verdant leisure destination was formerly dotted with warehouses and only known to very few members of the public who chose to jog along this quiet route. Now the land by the scenic northern coastline has been wonderfully transformed into an area that offers a variety of recreational opportunities for people of all ages.

URA has been conferred the prestigious Urban Land Institute (ULI) Awards for Excellence 2010: Asia Pacific by the ULI for the transformation of the Southern Ridges. Well-loved by Singaporeans and visitors, the Southern Ridges is a unique recreational destination, offering a calming sanctuary of greenery that was not accessible in the past.

Residents staying in the north certainly have something to smile about these days. They can now enjoy a new leisure destination with the completion of Phase One of the Woodlands Waterfront.

Three years ago, we celebrated the groundbreaking of an iconic pedestrian bridge to be built at the Marina Bay. Three years later, we take our first steps on this engineering and architectural achievement with pride.

When you next step into the Siglap Village area, slow down your pace and enjoy taking a slow walk along the beautifully landscaped walkways to your favourite cafe. You will be surprised that URA has green thumbs too!

Explore, experience, be entertained. All at one place : The Marina Bay.

The open, green field just above the Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station is now home to a brand new community space. Boasting a contemporary, bold design that reinforces the uniqueness of its surrounding natural landscape, Dhoby Ghaut Green is the latest addition to the variety of public spaces that have been created to add a fresh vibe to our city centre.

The lush green environs and scenic settings of the Southern Ridges have drawn enthusiastic visitors, nature lovers and budding photographers to the area. Less well-known is the fact that the design and innovative use of space and materials have garnered accolades for the two pedestrian bridges, Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch, as well as the Forest Walk.

Punggol Point is the place to be if you are on the lookout for a quick retreat from city life to recharge and relax. Skyline takes you on a stroll along Punggol Promenade, a soon-to-be completed attraction set amidst not just the sun, sand and sea but also lush greenery and quiet waters by the river.

Dhoby Ghaut was an open space where dhobies gathered to wash laundry along the banks of Sungei Bras Basah (now known as the Stamford Canal). Essentially an Anglo-Indian term, the area was thus coined as Dhoby Ghaut where dhoby refers to laundrymen and ghaut means ?beside the river?.

Needing a break after being buried in paperwork for hours, you head to the sky terrace on your office floor for a breather. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, you enjoy a shady escape at the rooftop garden with a cuppa and a good book. And on any given day, you have your ?green moments? while walking downtown or to the nearest bus stop, taking in the beautiful garden oasis and skyrise greenery abundant in the buildings around you.

It is hard to imagine today, but there was a time when few believed that Singapore could become a cosmopolitan home for its people, a host to numerous multi-national corporations and the location of financial institution headquarters. After all, it had severe land limitations and a lack of natural resources.

What makes Singapore an endearing home for us? Do we anchor our sense of belonging on places or structures that we easily identify with and have loved all these years? Perhaps, it is an up-and-coming development that we are excited about and can build our future on. Skyline brings you 35 hotspots that are dear to us, in one way or another. We hope that you love them as much as we do.

The new link which will complete the 3.5 km waterfront loop around Marina Bay is currently being pieced together, literally. When completed by end 2009, the new landmark Bridge at Marina Bay will serve as a direct link between Marina Centre and the Bayfront area and become a new destination attraction offering breathtaking views of the city.

The spotlight turned on the rich heritage of Upper Serangoon with the new plans to enhance the pedestrian experience in the area. Skyline takes a look at what is in store ?

Whether you are a cycling enthusiast looking for a challenging new route or just a tired city denizen in need of fresh air, the upcoming Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk promises to offer more recreational and leisure choices for you.

URA's vision for the Southern Ridges, consisting of Mount Faber, Telok Blangah and Kent Ridge, was to have a seamless connection through these popular parks and offer Singaporeans and visitors a brand new experience to walk, jog and explore nature while taking in charming views of the surroundings.

The sleepy space above Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station is about to awaken to new life. Besides playing host to community events and performances, it will also feature a sculptural outdoor amphitheatre and a food and beverage (F&B) pavilion. Skyline takes you closer to peek at what is to come.

Already a popular and thriving hive of activity, the Singapore River will soon undergo further enhancements and, also, host a new slew of events to make it into an even more compelling 24-hour waterfront lifestyle destination.

Boost standing as iconic 24-hour waterfront lifestyle destination

Residents in Woodlands new town get to enjoy more recreation spaces at their doorsteps

On 1 December 2007, the final segment of the pedestrian bridge across Henderson Road was lifted, bringing the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) a step closer towards the completion of its plan to link the Southern Ridges. Skyline updates you on the project that will enable Singaporeans to experience the lush, scenic expanse of the beautiful Ridges.

Coming soon to Woodlands : A new coastal promenade offering great views of the Johor Straits and a park complete with fitness facilities and fun playgrounds. These facilities which will offer something for everyone in the family are part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)?s plans to enhance our living environment by capitalising on our natural assets. Skyline gives you a glimpse of the plans that are underway.

Skyline checks out the exciting plans to further enhance the idyllic charm factor of rustic Punggol Point ? our very own well-loved seaside paradise.

Charming tree-lined boulevards. Pedestrian networks that make walking a pleasurable experience. Open spaces that provide a respite against the hustle and bustle of weekend crowds. Would you have considered these to be the result of good urban design? Skyline takes a layman approach to demystify the concept of urban design and how it affects our daily lives.

When the western boardwalk at Changi Point first opened to the public in 2003, it was an instant recreational hit among Singaporeans. Now, the entire stretch of coastal boardwalk is completed, all the way to the eastern end. Take a stroll with Skyline along the newly completed Changi Point Coastal Walkway.

The plan by URA to link up the Southern Ridges and enhance it as an attractive recreational destination for both Singaporeans and tourists is fast taking shape. Skyline brings you an update.

Visitors can look forward to a unique and memorable experience crossing Marina Bay on a new landmark bridge, as well as a multicoloured, multi-sensory environment at Marina Bay, thanks to a landscape master plan.

With two bridge designs getting the final nod in Sep 2004, visitors can look forward to a continuous chain of greenery and fun all across Southern Ridges in three years' time.

Singaporeans are one step closer to having a new, green playground. Five schemes were given merit awards in Jun this year, by a five-member jury in the recently concluded Southern Ridges Bridge Design Competition.

In URA's 30 years of planning Singapore and shaping its future, what has helped Singapore rise to immediate challenges and yet stay primed for the long haul? Sound principles, prudent planning and creative solutions.

Increasingly, cities worldwide recognise the significance of public spaces towards creating a vibrant cityscape and cosmopolitan urban life. But exactly what makes public spaces work? Skyline explores home and abroad for answers.

Public spaces are where people meet each other. Good public spaces lead to vibrant community places and reinforce the sense of civic belonging. It is exciting to see that the competition has sparked much public interest and creativity in the design and programming of public spaces. People from all walks of life, professionals and students, participated. The competition has thus achieved its objective of generating awareness for the need for good public spaces. We all need to work towards improving our public spaces, to create a more vibrant community and a high-quality urban environment.

Now you can enjoy a captivating view of the sunset and come close to the irresistible charm of the coastline with the completion of URA's 1.2 km boardwalk along the western coast of Changi Point.

The Draft Master Plan 2003 says you can look forward to more homes, facilities to learn and play, and natural areas to be safeguarded on our land use plans. What's more, there will be greater leeway for businesses through a new business zoning system.

Yearn to live in a high-rise apartment, yet have space to plant your favourite flowers? This and more are possible as guidelines are increasingly relaxed to help skyrise greenery take off. Skyline traces the climb.

"The town planners, landscape designers and tourism authorites of the Lion City have worked together to create a triumphant attraction. It's terrific." writes a foreign papers on Singapore River. Skyline re-visits this river of life and catches up with the latest happenings.

With so many ideas for green spaces and memorable places in Singapore, what's in store in the near future? The outcome of the public consultation on the Parks & Waterbodies Plan and Identity Plan was revealed with the announcement of key responses to the Subject Groups' recommendations on 22 Jan 2003.

As eating out becomes "in", guidelines for outdoor kiosks and outdoor refreshment areas (ORAs) become more flexible to make it better for designers, operators and patrons.

After an extensive three-month public consultation period, how well do the public and Subject Groups like URA's proposals under the Parks & Waterbodies Plan and Identity Plan? Skyline brings you the highlights.

The Marina Bay waterfront was a hotbed of activities on 12 October. The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay opened with a big bang of pyrotechnics, fireworks, acrobatic acts, bumboat displays and open-air party for a 100,000-strong crowd along the waterfront promenade. This state-of-the-art, world-class arts centre is part of URA's vision for a more exciting city waterfront. Skyline tells you more about this vision

After the announcement of the Concept Plan 2001 key proposals last July, what's the next step to bring them closer to reality? Skyline gives you a low-down on the Parks & Waterbodies Plan and Identity Plan drawn up to focus on "heartware" issues - quality of life and identity

If you had just returned to Singapore after being away for a few years, what are some of the places which you would marvel at and consider 'beyond recognition'? Skyline relates the story of the transformation of some of these places, where you can 'see' the fingerprints of URA imprinted on them - Tanjong Rhu, Singapore River, China Square and Albert Mall.

URA has carefully planned for the city's skyline over the past decade. Going forward, how will we be shaping this city we call home? Here's a little peek.

More greenery, better educational, recreational and community facilities, Skyline finds out what Woodlands residents can soon look forward to

Reclamation works for the Merlion's new home has just begun in Dec 2001. Skyline takes a look at the new home for Singapore's famous tourist icon.

Ever wanted to visit Changi Point but found its inaccessibility a put-off? When a part of a brand new boardwalk at the western part of Changi Point is up and ready by mid 2003, taking a stroll along the northern coastline to enjoy its rustic beauty will become a breeze.

Skyline takes a look at what's been quietly happening in one far-flung corner of Singapore.

Completed in Sep 2000, the Telok Ayer Environmental Improvement Project has received positive feedback from tenants, pedestrians and motorists. The improvement works are part of the Chinatown walking loop that links Kreta Ayer and Telok Ayer.

The Merlion is moving! By mid-2002, the tourism icon will re-locate to its brand new home adjacent to One Fullerton, a new commercial development, opposite The Fullerton Hotel. Here, amid the majestic setting of the calm waters of Marina Bay and flanked by the busy skyscrapers at Raffles Place, the Merlion will once again bask in its former glory.

PDF: 547KB. Go on, take a walk along the Singapore River and enjoy the sights along the waterfront. Now with the promenade largely completed, it is possible for pedestrians to enjoy a pleasant stroll along the whole stretch of the Singapore River.