Care & Share Movement Grant Enabled Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground to be launched with first-of-its-kind wheelchair-accessible play equipment

More inclusive playgrounds in pipeline for special needs children to play in

Singapore, 22 August 2015 – The Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground, made possible by the Care & Share Movement, with donations from Community Chest’s corporate partners and government’s matching grant, was officially opened by Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan-Jin today.

The Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground is a collaboration between the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the National Parks Board (NParks) and is one of the 11 inclusive playgrounds to be built across Singapore by end 2017. Among these 11 inclusive playgrounds, five (including the one at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park) are made possible under the Care & Share Movement. These include two collaborations between NCSS and NParks at Pasir Ris Park and West Coast Park, and another two that NCSS is partnering with two town councils.

The Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground, one of the first few outcomes under the Care & Share Movement, was specially designed after consultation and discussion sessions with therapists and children of special needs from six voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs).

Donations from Community Chest’s corporate partners and individual donors, such as Shaw Foundation, SMRT Corporation Ltd and Variety, the Children’s Charity for the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground, Madam Tan Kooi Hwa (for Pasir Ris Park playground) and Mr Lam Yew Chong, Mr Oan Chim Seng and Mr Yin Fook Cheong (for West Coast Park playground), have enabled the five Care & Share Movement-enabled inclusive playgrounds to be planned and built in various parts of Singapore.

Under the Care & Share Movement, the total proposed grant usage submitted by over 230 VWOs is $202.3 million as of 31 May 2015. A total of 1,950 projects, which included the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground, were submitted. The grant allows VWOs to launch new programmes and expand services, and implement projects that build capacity to cater to more social needs.

Mr Phillip Tan, Chairman of Community Chest and the Care & Share Movement Steering Committee, said, “We would like to thank our donors for their strong support for the Care & Share Movement and enabling the projects submitted to come into fruition. The Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground is one of the projects in the area of new programmes and expanded services that has borne fruit under this Movement. We look forward to many more such projects that can improve the lives of the people we serve.”

In addition to the five Care & Share Movement-enabled inclusive playgrounds, NParks will also roll out six more inclusive playgrounds so that children with special needs will be able to access these playgrounds easily. These six inclusive playgrounds will be spread across Singapore, such as Admiralty Park, Jurong Lake Gardens, Choa Chu Kang Park, Sengkang Riverside Park, Sun Plaza Park and East Coast Park. 

First-of-its-kind wheelchair-accessible play equipment in Singapore

Through the consultation and discussion sessions conducted by NCSS and the VWOs, it was agreed that play is important and beneficial to a child, regardless of his or her physical and mental abilities, as it allows the child to develop age-appropriate social, communication, motor and cognitive skills. An inclusive playground provides the physical structure, or ‘hardware’, that encourages play between children with and without special needs, helping them to learn and accept differences and to be inclusive in their daily social interactions with persons of different abilities.

For the first time in Singapore, wheelchair-using children with special needs will be able to mount onto a swing to experience the joy and feeling of ‘flying’ at the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground. There will also be a wheelchair-friendly merry-go–round that allows wheelchair users to enjoy the thrills of spinning with their peers. Other special needs-friendly play features include a slide that provides additional tactile stimulations using rollers and an accessible sand table. For a listing of all special needs friendly equipment at the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground, please access http://www.ncss.gov.sg/events/InclusivePlay/bishan-amk_park.asp.

Mr Kenneth Er, Chief Executive Officer, National Parks Board, said, “The upgrading of this playground creates a play space that considers children with special needs. As we plan for more inclusive playgrounds, we hope that more of them will enjoy playing outdoors with friends in the park, forging a more inclusive society.” 

NCSS’ Children in Action initiative to promote playground usage

In addition to setting up the ‘hardware’, NCSS also created the ‘software’ that will promote the use of the playground. NCSS will link up its network of VWOs, Early Intervention Programme for Infants & Children (EIPIC) centres and special education schools with organisations within the community on collaborative opportunities. NCSS is also exploring with VWOs on how inclusive play can be considered when schools plan their curriculum or outdoor activities.

Mr Sim Gim Guan, Chief Executive Officer of NCSS, said, “We are encouraged by the community, corporate partners and agencies such as NParks, who have come together to make this inclusive playground possible. The Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground is one of the many sector-wide projects that NCSS has embarked on as part of our aim to remove barriers for persons with special needs, which should start from young and which will in turn foster a more inclusive society in Singapore.”

As part of the community effort, Central Singapore Community Development Council also rallied volunteers under its Painting Smiles programme to beautify the inclusive playground through vibrant murals. The paint was donated in kind by AkzoNobel in support of this project. 

For more information on the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park inclusive playground, please access www.ncss.gov.sg/inclusiveplay.