First phase of Jurong Lake Gardens to be complete by 2017

SINGAPORE — The first phase of the Jurong Lake Gardens, a revitalised Jurong Lake Park, will be completed by 2017, announced the Urban Redevelopment Authority and National Parks Board (NParks) in a joint statement today (Aug 18).

The Ministry of Education will also set up a committee on plans for the Science Centre, which will be relocated into the Jurong Lake Gardens, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat in a Facebook post today. “I hope to have a diverse group of talented and passionate people on the committee, including, for instance, our best educators in the sciences and maths; scientists and researchers here and overseas; industry practitioners and technologists who use the insights of science and technology in their daily work; and people with a deep sense of wonder and love to share this,” he said.

NParks will be seeking ideas and engaging with designers and the community on the masterplan design of the Jurong Lake Gardens project next year. "This will allow for an implementation plan to be better established with a view to phase the completion of the entire Gardens," said NParks and the URA.

Plans to integrate the Japanese and Chinese gardens with Jurong Lake Park to create a "beautiful set of gardens in the heartlands" was mentioned by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally yesterday (Aug 17).

In a blog post today (Aug 18), National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said: “Heritage elements at the Chinese and Japanese Garden will be retained but refreshed as part of Jurong Lake Gardens.”

The authorities also touched on longer-term plans, such as building new homes in the area. It could realign the stretch of the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) from Yuan Ching Road to Jurong Town Hall Road to free up land south of Jurong Lake for residential development, and to integrate the Pandan Reservoir area with the district to form a “larger and more cohesive” development area.

To reduce the need to drive within the district, the Government will also explore building more cycling paths and park connectors to link up the Jurong Lake district with surrounding areas such as Pandan and Teban gardens estates, Tengah New Town, and the Bulim and Tengah industrial estates.