Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Opening of Bidadari Park
Sep 3, 2024
Introduction
Good morning, and welcome to the opening of Bidadari Park.
Back in 2013, my colleagues at HDB unveiled the master plan for the Bidadari estate. Envisioned as a “Community in a Garden”, the estate features communal spaces integrated with homes and facilities, creating a garden-like setting that simulates the experience of living in a park. To date, 8 public housing projects in Bidadari have been completed, including the most recent one in Alkaff District this year.
Over 75% of the flats launched in Bidadari have been completed, with the remaining projects expected to complete by 2025.
Today’s opening of Bidadari Park marks yet another milestone in realising the vision for the estate.
Preserving biodiversity in Bidadari
Since the 1990s, Bidadari has been well known as a site for nature appreciation due to its rustic landscape. In fact, when I first joined MND in 2013, I joined the Nature Society (Singapore) for the Singapore Bird Race – and one of the stops included here in Bidadari.
The Bidadari cemetery was exhumed in the early 2000s for future housing, and while waiting for its future use, the area became green over time and nature settled in.
When developing the Bidadari estate, special attention was paid to integrating green spaces within the estate. There was already a lot of existing greenery and some of the trees here predate the estate by many years.
So greenery is a key focus of the estate’s masterplan, with more than 10% of the land area set aside for Bidadari Park. It is also a haven for birds, particularly as a stopover site for migratory birds.
So, strategies were adopted at the estate and park level so that Bidadari continues to play that part.
This included working with the Nature Society (Singapore) to retain an approximately 1 ha hillock as a stopover site for migratory birds. Connecting the hillock to the main park is a 19-metre-wide land bridge across Bidadari Park Drive.
Almost 70% of the bridge’s width has been planted up with a carefully curated planting palette to create a conducive route for butterflies and birds to travel between the two green spaces.
Variety of recreational options for all
There is a total of about 5.2 km of experiential trails within Bidadari Park that will allow visitors to appreciate the various habitats within the park.
For example, the Woodland Experiential Trail in the northern part of the park winds through clusters of majestic Tembusu and Ficus trees.
Visitors can also enjoy a variety of nature-based recreational activities at Bidadari Park with their friends and families.
Children can engage in creative and exploratory play in nature at the Adventure Playwoods, inspired by the open woodland and rich birdlife in Bidadari.
Cyclists and joggers can enjoy the cycling paths abutting the Bidadari Greenway. This ‘green spine’ also connects the housing developments in Bidadari estate to the park.
Ensuring sustainability through innovative solutions
We have also deployed innovative sustainability solutions in Bidadari Park.
Take Alkaff Lake for example, it is a first-of-its-kind multi-functional drainage infrastructure put in place by colleagues at the PUB. During dry weather, it is a community and recreation space for residents to enjoy; but during heavy rainfall, it serves as a stormwater retention pond that slows down the discharge of stormwater into the downstream drain.
This reduces the risk of flash floods in Bidadari estate and the surrounding areas, amidst climate change where we expect more intense rainfall – not just more intense, but also more sudden.
The Alkaff Lake is the result of close collaboration between PUB, HDB, and NParks.
Upcoming features in Bidadari Park
Our work to enhance Bidadari estate doesn’t stop here. Visitors can look forward to upcoming features in Bidadari Park that honour Bidadari’s rich heritage.
This includes the Heritage Walk connecting Woodleigh MRT station to Bidadari Park, which is estimated to be progressively completed from 4Q 2024. Visitors can recount the history and stories of Bidadari through a series of storyboards.
Some of you may remember the original Bidadari Memorial Garden, and can look forward to seeing it again at its new location at the eastern end of Bidadari Park. The Memorial Garden is estimated to complete by 1H 2025, and will be a commemorative space that will allow visitors to explore the Christian, Muslim, and Hindu sections of Bidadari Cemetery, and will include the old gates and gateposts of the cemetery.
I would like to thank our heritage groups for your valuable and insightful feedback and for working with my colleagues at the agencies. As you can see, Bidadari is housing, living, green spaces, recreation and heritage all weaved into one.
Conclusion
I would also like to extend my appreciation to colleagues from HDB, NParks, NHB and PUB, for working together to make Bidadari Park a key feature of the estate. Let’s continue to work together to transform Singapore into a City in Nature, and create a green, liveable and sustainable home for everyone.
Thank you and have a wonderful day ahead.