New lifestyle community club in Keat Hong

SINGAPORE - Keat Hong's new community club could be the first in Singapore to get its very own bowling alley.

The upcoming five-storey building opposite Lot One Shoppers' Mall will also house a family-friendly gym and community health facilities when it opens in 2016.

The constituency raised more than $2 million over two years for the project. It replaces the Lam Soon Community Centre, which has been located at a Housing Board block void deck for over 20 years.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday morning, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad said that the space will be "the icon of Chua Chu Kang kampung spirit... a hub where residents will bond and build memories".

"The new (club) will be better equipped with facilities comparable to many private social clubs."

He hopes more residents will participate in healthy activities with their families at the club, especially with the construction of the bowling centre, dance studio and multi-purpose hall for large-scale events.

Mr Zaqy said he has been pushing for the bowling facility, which will depend on whether someone comes forward to run it when a tender is called.

There will also be health services provided by the Ministry of Health and National University Health System.

"With such a centralised location we thought it would be good to add on these services," said Mr Zaqy separately.

"Residents can go for blood pressure tests and health screenings when they come for activities."

The project has been in the works for eight years while the constituency sourced for land that would be in the heart of the town.

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was the guest-of-honour at yesterday's event, which was attended by more than 1,000 residents.

One of them was accountant Michelle See, a 44-year-old who has lived in the area for eight years with her husband and three daughters.

"Our family likes bowling and if there's a centre nearby we can do it more often," she said. "Hopefully it's cheaper than other places as well."

joseow@sph.com.sg

This article was published on April 27 in The Straits Times.

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