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First playground co-designed and built by residents

SINGAPORE — Three years ago, during Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) annual Community Week, a group of Canberra residents came up with an idea: Why not let them design and build a playground for their children?

The new 185sqm playground in Canberra — about the size of two four-room flats — drew inspiration from kelongs or fishing jetties that were once found in Sembawang. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

The new 185sqm playground in Canberra — about the size of two four-room flats — drew inspiration from kelongs or fishing jetties that were once found in Sembawang. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Three years ago, during Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) annual Community Week, a group of Canberra residents came up with an idea: Why not let them design and build a playground for their children?

Three years on, the fruit of their labour is standing proudly next to Block 334 Sembawang Close. The Adventure Playground@Canberra, which officially opened on Sunday (Jan 7), is the first to be conceptualised, designed and built together with residents under HDB’s pilot Build-A-Playground initiative. 

The end product, which was completed after a year-and-a-half of planning and discussion, was a 185 sqm — about the size of two four-room flats — kelong-themed playground that reflected the area’s heritage, drawing inspiration from kelongs or fishing jetties that were once found in Sembawang.

On top of building it, the residents — and their children, of course — played a vital role in the conceptualisation and design. 

For example, as the children wanted a playground that resembled a treehouse, a centre piece of the design was a tree-like climbing structure covered by a green canopy. Steps, ladders, nettings, fireman pole among other things were also installed after both the children and residents said they wanted to see adventurous and interactive play equipment.

To bring out the kelong feel, climbing structures and hammocks that resembled fishing nets were incorporated into the design.

More seating facilities were added after parents requested for these spaces to rest while supervising the children.

The HDB supported the project by organising design workshops for the residents, roadshows and conducted surveys from the middle of 2015 to last year.

About 1,800 people participated in the design and building process.

Canberra resident Jane Khoo, 38, said her two sons, aged 5 and 8, were happy to be able to build a playground with others.

“I’ve lived here for seven years and, because of this playground, I’ve had the chance to know neighbours I’ve never met,” she added.

Speaking at the official opening of the Adventure Playground@Canberra, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong announced that the pilot will be expanded, where five more of such playgrounds will be built across four HDB towns in Toa Payoh, Pasir Ris, Woodlands and Chua Chu Kang, in the next few years.

A HDB spokesperson added that five existing playgrounds in these four towns would be rebuilt under the estate renewal plans such as Remaking Our Heartland and the Town Councils’ Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. More details will be shared after they have been finalised.

After helping to assemble a slide at Adventure Playground@Canberra, Minister Wong said playgrounds here may have evolved over time — from the basic swings and seesaws, the iconic dragon playgrounds in the 1970s and 1980s, to the play and exercise facilities for different age groups today — but the most important aspect of it is “how residents come together to design it and to take ownership of it”.

With a sense of ownership, residents will make use of the playground and appreciate such facilities, he added.

Separately, Minister Wong also said the National Museum of Singapore and the HDB will be putting up a special exhibition of Singapore’s playgrounds later this year.

The exhibition will look at the evolution of the playgrounds here and inspire Singaporeans to consider what playgrounds in future could be like, he noted.

More details of the exhibition will be shared at a later date.

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