Sengkang West going for a makeover as recreation hub

http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapor...ry_246530.html

June 11, 2008

Sengkang West going for a makeover as recreation hub


FROM ulu to cool. That's MP Lam Pin Min's plan for Sengkang West.

The aim is to redevelop the rustic town into a 'suburban recreational hub'.

There will be new parks, restaurants by the river and water-sport activities by next year.

He unveiled these plans for the ward at a press conference yesterday ahead of a visit to the area by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say.

Mr Lim will tour the ward, which is part of Ang Mo Kio GRC, on June 22.

Sengkang West, which was formed in the run-up to the 2006 General Election, is home to about 35,000 residents but is relatively undeveloped compared to the neighbouring Sengkang areas and Punggol.

But that will change. And it will be more than just having a different image.

The changes will cater to the needs and lifestyle of residents in the ward, more than half of whom are couples in their 20s to 40s.

These will include a Sengkang sports and recreation centre, which is almost complete. It will have, among other things, swimming

pools, a sports hall, a gymnasium and dance studio.

A section of the Punggol River will be dammed so that there will be a calmer reservoir area where residents can take part in water sports activities.

A Sengkang riverside park will also be built nearby, and a waterfront deck, lined with restaurants, will overlook the river.

As water sports will be a new feature in the town plan, Dr Lam has also formed a 'guardians group' to look into safety issues for sports and water activities.

The group, made up of a dozen grassroots leaders, will ensure there is proper medical assistance on the ground.