I agree with Ms Mallika Naguran, in her commentary “Bring culture to the people” (April 10), that Singapore must preserve its natural and built environments “instead of wiping them out in the name of progress”.

The environments we grew up with are what brings back the memories and keeps us emotionally attached to places we called home. These places, and not museums, give us a sense of belonging and identity.

Unfortunately, many of our familiar places, especially playgrounds, schools and gardens, either get upgraded or changed into a new environment. It would be a bittersweet experience to remember them only from photographs.