Bask in nature's glory at Jurong Eco-Garden

SINGAPORE - Residents living in the West can now go for strolls and enjoy nature at a new eco-friendly park next to Nanyang Technological University.

At the Jurong Eco-Garden, which is the size of about seven football fields, are features including a freshwater swamp, streams, ponds and a butterfly garden. There are also walking trails and a summit lookout with a bird's-eye view of the park.

The eco-garden, a project by JTC Corp, forms the "green lung" of its CleanTech Park, an industrial estate dedicated to the research and development of sustainable solutions. Its design represents a first for a garden in an industrial park in Singapore.

When creating the park, JTC sought to strike a balance between developmental needs and the natural environment, said chief executive Png Cheong Boon.

The site was once a secondary forest, meaning that it had already been affected by human activity.

A freshwater swamp, for example, serves as a detention pond for rainwater run-off. About 65 per cent of the run-off is captured, filtered and channelled for toilet flushing, irrigation of plants and outdoor washing, said Mr Png.

Other sustainable features there include the rocks used for the summit lookout, which were excavated from JTC's other building projects and reused. Wood from felled trees on the site was reused for signage and park furniture.

Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong, who is also adviser to Chua Chu Kang grassroots organisations, officially opened the eco-garden yesterday.

In his speech, he said the park could become a focal point for community interaction.

"It will cater to a myriad of activities. You can come here to do some bird-watching, exercise or jog around the park," he said.

"Schools can also make the eco-garden a destination for field trips."

Mr Gan said the grassroots organisations are working with the National Parks Board to make the eco-garden part of the 150km Round Island Route, a green corridor that goes around Singapore.

JTC's Mr Png said: "Our efforts to restore the greenery have yielded encouraging results."

After the park was completed, JTC recorded 15 additional butterfly species not previously found at the site. Some of the species are of conservation interest in Singapore, Mr Png added.

"Migratory birds have also stopped over," he said.

Mr Mike Goh, 46, a Bukit Batok resident and an engineer who works at CleanTech Park, said he had spent many lunch breaks at the eco-garden to "get some fresh air", after it was opened to the public some months ago.

"I love greenery. I will bring my children here to expose them to nature and take some pictures," said Mr Goh, who has two daughters, aged 10 and 14.

This article was first published on June 2, 2014.
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