Kent Ridge Park
| Kent Ridge Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Singapore |
| Area | 91.6 hectares (226 acres) |
| Created | 1954 |
| Status | Open all year |
Kent Ridge Park is a 47-
During the
The park was officially opened in 1954, and was gazetted by the National Heritage Board as one of 11 World War II sites in Singapore in 1995.[2] It is one of over 300 parks managed by Singapore's National Parks Board, NParks.[3]
History
The area occupied by Kent Ridge Park and the
On 23 February 1954, the Governor of Singapore,
The park contains
The park today
Formerly used to house senior British Army officers, the last remaining black and white colonial bungalow at 31K Bukit Chandu has been restored and converted into a World War II war museum called Reflections at Bukit Chandu, commemorating the war and those who fought in it. Originally there were two smaller bungalows below 31K, but they were demolished in 1987 to make way for a public parking lot. There are three life-size statues and a plaque outside the museum, honoring the Malay Regiment and commemorating the lives of those who died.[8]
Kent Ridge Park,
The park also has some decommissioned Singapore Army military equipment, consisting of two WWII-vintage US M114 155mm field howitzers and a French AMX-13 light tank on permanent outdoor display until December 2015, donated by the Ministry of Defence as part of its adoption of Kent Ridge Park as The Army Green Park in support of the National Parks Board "Adopt-a-Park" scheme to inculcate a greater ownership among the public of local parks and greenery. The park's facilities include fitness corners, look-out points, a nature trail, a multi-purpose court and a canopy walk. The highest point of the park is 61 metres above sea level, from where there is a panoramic view of the coast of Pasir Panjang and some of the Southern Islands, approximately 5 km off the south-western coast of Singapore. Islands such as Pulau Bukom and Pulau Semakau are visible on a clear day.
Kent Ridge park,
Plant and animal life
The park is managed by the National Parks Board, and is open daily to the public. Admission is free except for entrance to the war museum. The park is accessible via entrances on Vigilante Drive and Pepys Road, off
The trails through the park, including one for mountain biking, run almost parallel along the ridge. There is a natural pond with fishes and turtles in the north-west of the park. A 280-metre long canopy walk was completed in the eastern part of the park in October 2003, linking Kent Ridge Park to the war museum, Reflections at Bukit Chandu, enhancing the park's and museum's accessibility to the public. Along the walk, there are information boards providing educational information on the
It is one of four popular birdwatching sites on mainland Singapore along with
Eco-tours and heritage tours are regularly organised by various special interest groups such as the
See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b c Foong (1997), "Fighting the Enemy in Pasir Panjang: The Role of the Malay Regiment", p. 295.
- ^ a b National Heritage Board (1995), "Battle of Pasir Panjang", p. 5.
- ^ "About Us". National Parks Board. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
- ^ "Kent Ridge Park". National Parks Board. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
- ^ Thangamma (2006), "History of Kent Ridge Park", p. 144.
- ^ a b Sivasothi, N. "A Pasir Panjang/Kent Ridge Heritage". Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
- ^ a b Information obtained from on-site information board at the Reflections at Bukit Chandu war museum.
- ^ At the launch of SCCI publication, "The Price of Peace" on 21 June 1997.
- ^ a b "Kent Ridge Park". National Parks Board. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
- ^ Thangamma (2006), "Flora of Kent Ridge Park", pp. 146–153.
- ^ "Birdwatching Trails by National Parks". South West Community Development Council. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
- ^ Thangamma (2006), "Birds at Kent Ridge Park", pp. 154–157.
Bibliography
- The Publicity Committee (1995). World War II Sites of Singapore—In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the End of WWII. Singapore: National Heritage Board.
- Thangamma & et el, Karthigesu (2006). Discover Singapore Heritage Trails. ISBN 981-05-6433-3.
- Lee, Geok Boi (2005). The Syonan Years: Singapore Under Japanese Rule 1942—1945. Singapore: National Archives of Singapore. ISBN 981-05-4290-9.
- Yap, Siang Yong; et al. (1992). Fortress Singapore—The Battlefield Guide. Singapore: Times Books International. ISBN 981-204-365-9.
- Foong, Choon Han (1997). The Price of Peace—True Accounts of the Japanese Occupation. Singapore: Asiapac Booksooks. ISBN 981-3068-53-1.
- Reflections at Bukit Chandu war museum, Singapore.
External links
