NParks seeks public views on new Jurong Lake Gardens

SINGAPORE - The National Parks Board (NParks) is inviting the public to contribute ideas towards shaping the design of Jurong Lake Gardens - Singapore's new national gardens in the heartlands.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Communications and Information Lawrence Wong launched a public engagement roving exhibition for the new gardens on Sunday. Mr Wong, who is also Chairman of the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee, also launched a new micro-site on Jurong Lake Gardens that will showcase the plans for the new gardens.

The new exhibition at Jurong Point will allow members of the community to learn more about Jurong Lake Gardens and submit their suggestions on what the new garden could be like.

It will be held at Jurong Point till April 7 before it is moved to various locations including the HDB Hub (April 11-12); Parkland Green at East Coast Park (April 18-19); and VivoCity (April 25-26).

During the exhibition, the public can then share their thoughts on what they would like to see at the new gardens, how the public spaces could be used, the types of activities they would like to participate in, and how they would like to contribute to the gardens.

Plans for the 90-ha Jurong Lake Gardens were first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at last year's National Day Rally.

The Gardens will be made up of Jurong Lake Gardens West (renamed from Jurong Lake Park); Jurong Lake Gardens Central (including the Chinese and Japanese Gardens); and Jurong Lake Gardens East (including the grounds of the new Science Centre).

NParks said that the new Jurong Lake Gardens will be conceptualised and developed around four key design principles: Preserving nature & memories, co-creating show gardens, integrating science & nature and vibrant programming.

The Gardens' first phase of development will focus on Jurong Lake Gardens West, which is currently in the concept stage and will be ready in 2017. The rest of the Gardens will be completed in phases from 2020 onwards.

The design of Jurong Lake Gardens West has been conceptualised based on public feedback obtained earlier in 2012 during NParks' public engagement exercise for the City in a Garden vision. NParks had announced in 2012 that it would be developing Destination Parks to attract Singaporeans from all over the island, and Jurong Lake Park (to be renamed Jurong Lake Gardens West), was identified as one of three Destination Parks to be developed.

The new public engagement exercise will the help NParks further refine its concept, the authority said.

In addition, NParks will also be seeking ideas from the community for the rest of Jurong Lake Gardens, including Jurong Lake Gardens Central (current Chinese and Japanese Gardens). These ideas will be incorporated into the brief for a design competition that NParks will be launching later in the year.

NParks has also been consulting other stakeholders on their views and feedback on Jurong Lake Gardens since the end of 2014. These include the grassroots and residents from the Jurong district; Community in Bloom (CIB) ambassadors, gardeners and volunteers; design professionals including planners, architects and landscape architects; as well as nature groups.

The public engagement exercise is expected to continue till May 2015.

ljessica@sph.com.sg