Opening of Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake marks another milestone in realising the vision for Bidadari estate

- Sensitively developed to ensure Bidadari continues to be a stopover site for migratory birds

- Includes Alkaff Lake, a multi-functional drainage infrastructure

The newly opened Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake marks yet another milestone in realising Bidadari estate’s vision as “A Community in a Garden”, where homes and facilities are situated in a garden-like setting, offering residents a unique “living in a park” experience. Well-known as a site for nature appreciation since the 1990s, Bidadari Park has been sensitively enhanced so that it can continue to be a stopover site for migratory birds. The park also includes the scenic Alkaff Lake, inspired by the former Alkaff Gardens, which is also a multi-functional drainage infrastructure that serves as a stormwater retention pond during heavy rainfall. In dry weather, it functions as a community and recreation zone. Residents and the community can now enjoy a wide variety of recreational experiences in the park, such as immersing in greenery and nature, appreciating Bidadari’s heritage, and engaging in exploration and play. Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake are the result of a multi-agency collaboration involving the Housing & Development Board (HDB), the National Parks Board (NParks), national water agency PUB, and the National Heritage Board (NHB).

Realising Bidadari estate’s vision as “A Community in a Garden”

Launched in August 2013, the master plan for Bidadari draws inspiration from its rich heritage and unique topography of undulating hills and lush greenery. The estate was envisioned as a tranquil urban oasis where developments are seamlessly integrated into the landscape and where residents and the community can relax in a naturalistic and picturesque living environment. The completion of Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake marks a major milestone in the development of the estate and brings us a step closer to realising Bidadari’s vision. Occupying more than 10% of the estate’s land area, Bidadari Park provides residents with a place to relax and spend time with friends and family.

Providing a variety of recreational options for all

The design of Bidadari Park is inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood in the classic children’s story, Winnie-the-Pooh. The team behind the planning and design of the park saw the opportunity to retain the wooded and rustic nature of Bidadari, while creating a unique park experience for visitors. They envisioned a naturalistic green expanse of space for adventures across the woodland, where marshes and streams come to life just as in the story.

Experiential trails

Utilising the site’s natural topography and undulating terrain, trails were incorporated into the park with the aim of encouraging deeper exploration and enjoyment of nature. Experiential trails wind through the park, bringing visitors closer to natural habitats within it. Observation decks, viewing sheds, and pavilions located at strategic points serve as rest spots for visitors, offering them a myriad of views of the park’s rustic landscape. Designed to blend into the surroundings, these rest stops add to the experience of being immersed in the woods.

Adventure Playwoods and open lawns

Children can engage in creative and exploratory play at the Adventure Playwoods, the first playground of its kind in an HDB estate, inspired by the open woodlands and rich birdlife in Bidadari. This play area allows children to engage in creative play amidst nature. Beside the Adventure Playwoods, families and community groups can enjoy picnics and games at the two adjacent open lawns.

Bidadari Greenway

Park visitors can easily access Bidadari Park via the fully completed Bidadari Greenway, a ‘green spine’ which traverses the full length of the estate from Bartley Road to Upper Serangoon Road, connecting the housing developments to the park. Pedestrian and cycling paths running through and adjacent to the Greenway, respectively, enable residents to walk and cycle seamlessly in the estate while rest spots and fitness corners create opportunities for community recreation. Notwithstanding the undulating terrain, Bidadari Park is also designed with barrier-free access routes from the park to the rest of the estate through the Greenway, making it an inclusive park for all ages to enjoy.

Enhancing greenery and nature within Bidadari Park

Strategies at the macro and park level were adopted for Bidadari to ensure that it remains an attractive stopover site for migratory birds, and also incorporates suggestions from the community to enrich the biodiversity within it.

In the planning and design of Bidadari Park, HDB and NParks discussed ways to enrich the biodiversity within the park with Nature Society (Singapore) and took suggestions on board wherever feasible. This included retaining an approximately 1 ha hillock in the north of the estate as a stopover site for migratory birds, as well as designing a land bridge across Bidadari Park Drive to connect the hillock to the main park area. While serving as an extension of Bidadari Park, the hillock is also strategically located between two new BTO developments – Woodleigh Glen and Woodleigh Hillside – thus bringing nature closer to more residents.  This thoughtful design also enables four, instead of just two, new BTO developments in Bidadari to have a direct park frontage, with the connecting land bridge providing convenient pedestrian access for more residents staying on the opposite side of Bidadari Park Drive to Bidadari Park. Overall, this demonstrates how with careful planning, sensitive design, and close engagement of stakeholders, it is possible to strike a good balance between development and nature conservation.  

Multi-functional drainage infrastructure

When Bidadari estate was planned, an innovative approach was needed to overcome space constraints while ensuring adequate flood protection for the estate and the surrounding areas. Alkaff Lake, a key feature of Bidadari Park, is an example of a multi-functional drainage infrastructure that acts as a stormwater retention pond during heavy rainfall. It helps to slow down stormwater runoff to the downstream drains. During dry weather, the lake doubles up as a community and recreation zone.

Preserving memories

As the vision of Bidadari takes shape with the completion of Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake, the features in the park also honour Bidadari’s rich heritage. Alkaff Lake pays homage to the former Alkaff Gardens, built in 1929 in the estate by the Alkaffs, a well-known Arab family who were merchants-cum-landowners. The Alkaffs opened the magnificent garden to the public the same year, and it quickly became a place of attraction that was popular with both visitors and residents. The new lake is designed to recreate the sense of tranquility of the former Alkaff Gardens and provides a scenic spot for rest and leisure.

A Heritage Walk, located between the Adventure Playwoods and Alkaff Lake, recounts the history and stories of Bidadari’s rich past through a series of storyboards, allowing new residents to discover the historical significance of their neighbourhood. Currently, only the portion of the Heritage Walk located adjacent to Alkaff Lake is opened to the public. When fully completed, visitors will be able to travel from Woodleigh MRT station to Bidadari Park, as well as to an upcoming relocated memorial garden at its eastern end.

Residents and the community who remember the original Bidadari Memorial Garden can look forward to visiting it at its new location when it opens at Bidadari Park. The relocated memorial garden will comprise various sections representing the Christian, Muslim and Hindu areas of the former Bidadari Cemetery and will include the old gates, gateposts and headstones from the cemetery. Designed as a commemorative space in a tranquil setting, visitors will be able to learn about the history of one of Singapore’s oldest cemeteries and the pioneers once buried there.

Community involvement in shaping Bidadari Park

Earlier today, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment and Transport, Dr Amy Khor, and Adviser to Potong Pasir SMC GROs, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, joined residents in planting trees at Bidadari Park, helping to put the finishing touches to the park’s landscaping. This builds upon the contributions from nature and heritage groups when Bidadari Park was planned and designed, whose suggestions have been incorporated where suitable.

Altogether, these efforts will help nurture greater community stewardship of our green spaces, contributing to Singapore’s transformation into a City in Nature.

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