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Published Date: 30 Sep 2023
About 79,000 residents of Queenstown and the neighbouring Farrer Road Estate can look forward to an array of enhancements and upgrades aimed at fostering their physical, social, and mental well-being, enabling them to lead healthy and active lives. These town-wide improvements encompass amenities that promote active-ageing such as therapeutic gardens, exercise trails, and new fitness equipment; as well as senior-friendly mobility enhancements, including barrier-free access ramps, rest points, and pedestrian-friendly streets. These initiatives are part of the upcoming rejuvenation plans for Queenstown under the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, announced by Minister Chan Chun Sing, Adviser for Tanjong Pagar GRC, at the launch of the ROH exhibition for Queenstown today.
2 First developed in the 1950s by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) and subsequently by HDB, Queenstown is Singapore’s first satellite town. The town currently has one of the oldest populations in Singapore, with almost one out of every four Singaporeans aged 65 and above. In October 2021, it was designated as the pilot site for the development of a Health District1, intended as a testing ground to trial integrated solutions that enhance the health and well-being of Queenstown residents throughout their various life stages. The ROH plans are both timely and essential for a comprehensive rejuvenation of the town to support healthy living and active ageing.
Creating a Healthier and More Active Queenstown
3 In drawing up the renewal plans for Queenstown, HDB engaged some 430 residents and stakeholders, ranging in age from 19 to almost 80 years old. Four rounds of engagements between 2020 and 2022 were held to better understand the improvements they hoped to see. Homes, heritage and nature stood out as the three key themes that are important to residents, who shared that they were proud of the town’s rich history, lush greenery and its central location. Many also wanted more modern facilities that can cater to all ages, as well as greenery and spaces where they can gather and relax with friends and neighbours.
4 Based on their feedback, the rejuvenation plans for Queenstown will focus on:
- Injecting new facilities and green spaces to enable residents to lead active lifestyles and improve their physical well-being.
- Improving connectivity across the town so residents have better access to recreational space and greenery.
- Creating more senior-friendly neighbourhoods
- Preserving the memories and heritage of Queenstown
Encouraging Active Lifestyles Through New Facilities and Amenities
5 Over the last three years, HDB has launched close to 6,000 new flats in Ulu Pandan, Ghim Moh and Queensway to meet the strong housing demand. Besides offering new and younger families the opportunity of living in Queenstown, these housing developments will also inject new commercial amenities as well as social and communal facilities for the enjoyment of all Queenstown residents.
6 For example, the Queensway Canopy Build-to-Order project will feature a Social and Wellness Hub, comprising a variety of social and communal facilities, with healthcare services for seniors. To encourage residents to get active, HDB and SportSG will set up and pilot an ActiveSG Gym at Queensway Canopy. Spanning 1,000 sqm, it will be the first gym to be housed within a housing development.
A Social and Wellness Hub, comprising a variety of social and communal facilities, will be built adjacent
to the Community Care Apartments at Queensway Canopy (Credit: HDB)
7 In existing precincts across Queenstown, there are exciting plans to introduce new exercise trails and fitness equipment starting from end 2025. These initiatives aim to encourage residents of all ages to incorporate strength, balance and mobility exercises as part of their daily routines. Residents can also look forward to an Active Health Fitness Trail, to be piloted in Queenstown’s Mei Ling precinct in partnership with SportSG. Bringing concepts of sport and exercise science to the community, the Active Health Fitness Trail will feature an exercise path that links up various fitness corners within the precinct to encourage residents to stay active. Programmes and activities focused on improving strength, mobility and flexibility will be available through engagements by Active Health coaches, ambassadors and other community partners to help residents in their health and wellness journey. Similar trails will be introduced in other estates progressively from 2025 onwards.
Proposed fitness corner along Active Health Fitness Trail in Mei Ling precinct (Credit: HDB)
Enhancing Greenery to Improve Overall Wellness
8 During the focus group discussions with Queenstown residents, many shared that they would like to see more greenery and spaces for community gardening nearer to their homes. Hence, HDB, together with NParks and various agencies, has planned the following enhancements:
- New parks with themed facilities, sheltered seating and nature play elements will be implemented across Queenstown. These will provide tranquil spaces for rest and mental recuperation, allowing residents to connect with nature. For example, at the new King’s Road Park in Farrer Road Estate, naturalistic planting around the park will enhance biodiversity while also providing a tranquil environment for residents to enjoy. The park will also have facilities such as a dog run, a playground, and senior-friendly fitness equipment to cater to the different needs of the community.
- Wellness landscapes, incorporating therapeutic gardens, will be introduced to bring nature to residents’ doorsteps. Designed using science-based principles, these are outdoor gardens to encourage visitors to interact with nature and improve their mental well-being. Featuring sensory planting (i.e. landscape design comprising plants with different scents, textures and colours) and activity spaces for contemplative activities, they offer a tranquil environment for mental relaxation. These wellness landscapes will be progressively implemented in upcoming housing projects and parks. For example, residents at Commonwealth Heights can look forward to a new therapeutic garden by 2027.
- Existing neighbourhood parks and green spaces, such as Holland Close Park and Commonwealth Crescent Open Space, will be upgraded with more recreational facilities, nature play elements, and thematic exercise equipment, to support residents’ physical, mental and social well-being. The existing playground at Holland Close will also be given a facelift under HDB’s Build-A-Playground initiative, where residents will have the opportunity to come together and co-create the space.
- Various neighbourhood precincts in Queenstown will be upgraded under HDB’s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) to better meet the needs of residents. For example, the provision of new community gardens and the co-location of fitness stations and playgrounds at new activity plazas will promote more social interaction and intergenerational bonding.
New therapeutic garden in Commonwealth Heights precinct for residents to rest and relax (Credit: HDB)
Improving Connectivity to the Rail Corridor and Other Social Nodes
9 Residents can look forward to improved connectivity within Queenstown, with the implementation of new cycling paths, enhancements to the Rail Corridor and the introduction of social nodes along key connections.
10 New cycling paths will be implemented throughout Queenstown, to encourage residents to maintain a green and active lifestyle. These cycling paths will link to neighbouring towns such as Bukit Merah and Clementi, thus improving outward connectivity. Residents will get to enjoy a more pleasant walking and cycling experience, with the roll-out of social nodes or outdoor rest points along well-used routes in Queenstown. To be introduced progressively from 2026, these social nodes will feature seating, play areas, exercise stations, bicycle parking facilities, as well as outdoor gardens that provide reprieve from urban stressors.
11 The 21km-long Rail Corridor runs through Queenstown, connecting its various neighbourhoods in Queenstown. Segments of the Rail Corridor will have new nodal spaces, so residents will have better access to recreational space and greenery:
- The Buona Vista node at JTC’s one-north Business Park, will include spaces for sports, community, and cultural events that connect with existing cultural and recreational spaces along the Rail Corridor.
- Further south at the Queensway viaduct node, various agencies will be actively engaging the community on the development plans for the area, which could include spaces that encourage community bonding and enhance residents’ health and wellness.
One-North will be connected to the Rail Corridor by the new Buona Vista social node, that is targeted
to be completed by end-2023 (Credit: Ho Bee Land Limited)
Artist’s impression of new multi-functional and inclusive community space along the Rail Corridor
under Queensway viaduct during an event day (Credit: HDB)
Creating More Senior-Friendly Neighbourhoods
12 To serve the wider needs of the community and foster more inclusive social spaces, six existing Neighbourhood Centres2 will be upgraded. The enhancements include new sheltered seating areas with landscaping, new fitness and bicycle parking facilities and improved pavements to make moving around safer and easier. Additionally, barrier-free ramps, and wider centre dividers to allow seniors to cross the road in two stages will also be implemented to help residents navigate steep terrains such as those at Mei Ling Heights.
Upgraded Mei Ling Neighbourhood Centre with improved accessibility and fitness areas (Credit: HDB)
13 In new public housing developments such as Queensway Canopy, dementia-friendly features to improve wayfinding will also be introduced to better support people living with dementia in carrying out their daily routines. Some examples include pedestrian wayfinding lines that help guide residents to areas such as lift lobbies, drop-off porches and Community Living Rooms, as well as distinctive signage on blocks to help them find their way around the neighbourhood.
Preserving Queenstown’s Memories and Heritage
14 Over the years, Queenstown has seen much development and undergone various rejuvenation programmes to ensure that the town keeps pace with residents’ evolving needs and aspirations. Despite the changes, Queenstown has retained much of its unique character and charm. Hence, the ROH upgrades aim to retain some key heritage elements of the town that residents cherish. For example, agencies will explore the adaptive reuse of some blocks in Tanglin Halt estate, which were originally developed by the SIT.
15 Residents will also have the opportunity to co-create wall murals to capture significant historical moments and celebrate the rich heritage of Queenstown. These wall murals can serve a wayfinding purpose to help residents with dementia navigate the neighbourhood independently. Beyond these projects, residents can tap on HDB’s Lively Places Fund3 to initiate other projects for their community.
Wayfinding murals co-created with residents at Stirling View precinct (Credit: HDB)
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Converting the roof deck of Blk 7B Commonwealth Ave into a gardening hub (Credit: HDB)
Inviting Residents to Give Feedback on ROH Proposals
16 Residents can look forward to the plans being implemented within the next 5 to 10 years. The actual implementation timeframe for individual proposals will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the project.
17 The ROH proposals for Queenstown will be exhibited at Block 88 Tanglin Halt from 30 September to 8 October, before roving to four Neighbourhood Centres in Queenstown as well as at Farrer Road estate. More information on the roving exhibitions can be found in the Annex.
18 Residents are invited to visit the exhibition and give their feedback. They may also view the exhibition on the HDB InfoWEB and share their feedback online.
19 With the feedback gathered, HDB will refine the proposals together with the relevant government agencies, such that the eventual rejuvenation of the town will benefit as many residents as possible.
2 The six Neighbourhood Centres (NCs) are Ghim Moh NC, Holland Drive NC, Commonwealth Crescent NC, Mei Ling Heights NC, Dawson Place and Farrer Road NC.
3 The Lively Places Fund is an existing HDB initiative that encourages residents to initiate and implement projects that contribute to the building of active and cohesive communities. Funding can be given for physical improvement projects, such as converting a void deck to a community living room or installation of a public art; or non-physical projects such as the design and planning of community events.
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