Sengkang Riverside Park (2)

The last time I wrote about SengKang Riverside Park was on 25 July 2009. Today, I went back again to see if the Mangrove Plot has been done. Although, more things have taken shape, but it looked as if it need some more time.


^ It was like this during my last visit...
.
Now it is like this...

maybe, come back next year to see if it will be completed.

^ This park located opposite Visitor Centre Plot across Punggol River

MacRitchie Reservoir, a runners’ rendezvous...

Finally, the upgrading for the park where I ran my cross country during school days was completed.

Costing $1.2 million, phase 1 upgrading includes a new multi-storey carpark, a sheltered amentities centre, a spacious warm-up area and an improved floating pontoon for kayakers to launch their kayaks.

Phase 2 upgrading involves improvements to the bandstand, internal roads and footpaths, as well as the construction of new F&B outlets at the hilltop and landscaping. Expected to complete in 2011.


^ This new multi-storey car park consists of 300 lots, 110 lots more than the previous 3 open-air carparks. The carpark has plenty of greenery and rainwater. Rainwater collected in the carpark planters, irrigating the soil and providing nutrients for plants. The remaining water seeps through soil to pipes leading into the landscape retention pond.

^ Palm trees and a green lawn (above) greet the visitors at the revamped reservoir entrance (bottom), which also lead to the entrance of the amenities centre

^ right: the amenities centre.

^ left: entrance to the amenities centre which is now equipped with shower facilities as well as food kiosk.

^ Also, a new warm-up area and an announcement stage, which I think, will be most welcomed to event organisers.

^ With the opening of these long-closed gates, you can now take a stroll along the top MacRitchie's dam.

^ This zig-zag bridge and pavilion which are supposedly popular spots in the 1980s for lovers' meeting.

Dairy Farm Nature Park - Singapore Quarry

I can't wait to see the Singapore Quarry, thus we went back today to continue from where we have left yesterday.

This time, we started from carpark B which is nearer to the Singapore Quarry. Carpark B is located next to the Salvation Army at Bukit Timah.

^ Location map of carpark B

^ left: It's quite difficult to get lost because there are signages at strategic locations.
^ right: Arrived here and we need to walk a slightly elevated trek (about 1km) to reach the Singapore Quarry.

^ something like this... no sweat right?

^ can you see something now?

Look at the majestic quarry and read their story...

the quarry and its reflection...

a peep at the mountain bike track...

Latest addition - Dairy Farm Nature Park...

Happened to pass by Dairy Farm Nature Park and decided to check it out. There was a carpark (indicated as carpark B) at the entrance and no charge for parking.


After looking at the map, we decided to just walk the Wallace Trail as we were not in proper walking shoes. There is another longer trail which will lead to the Singapore Quarry (shall leave this to another day). The park is also connected to ZhengHua and Hillview parks by PCN and there is a mountain bike trail for mountain bikers.

^ you can't get lost with all the signages around

^ The Wallace Trail, the Wallace Education Centre and WELL have been named after Alfred Wallace, to honour his contributions to natural science. A comtemporary of Charles Darwin. Wallace is the other 'father' behind the theory of evolution. Wallace had stopped over in Singapore in 1854 furing his journeys to the Malay Archipelago, and collected many species of beetles in the vicinity of the Dairy Farm site.

^ This signboard wrote "this road is impassable. Please do not enter". hahaha...

^ The Wallace Trail is a shorter trail and soon we arrived at the Wallace Education Centre. Formerly a cowshed, the building that is now the Wallace Education Centre was restored and now houses the Wallace Environmental Learning Lab (WELL) and an interpretative centre where visitors can learn about the changing landscapes of Dairy Farm and Bukit Timah Reserve through various exhibits.

^ exhibits hall

^ The Wallace Trail begins here ...

^ I didn't even see a squirrel, not to say tiger :(

^ Are these the remains of the old kampong houses ?

^ left: look at this "split body" tree!

When you see this building, you have reached the end of Wallace Trail.

Told you, it's easy. No sweat.