NParks opens new Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Park with Singapore’s first outdoor boccia court, and obstacle course specially designed for wheelchair users

NParks opens new Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Park with Singapore’s first outdoor boccia court, and obstacle course specially designed for wheelchair users

-           Also features an inclusive agility course for both physiotherapy and recreational use

Singapore, 12 December 2024 – The National Parks Board (NParks) opened a new Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Park today to bring the benefits of therapeutic gardens and therapeutic horticulture programming closer to more residents[1].

Therapeutic gardens are specially curated and planned to facilitate people’s interactions with nature, to improve the well-being of visitors to such gardens. Designed using evidence-based design principles, each area within the therapeutic garden is planned to provide visitors with a serene and tranquil environment.

Featuring an Active Zone and a Passive Zone, the new Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Park is inclusively designed to cater to a diverse range of users including seniors and wheelchair users. It is the 16^th therapeutic garden located within our parks and gardens.

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, who was at the opening, said: “With the opening of the Punggol Park Therapeutic Garden, we now have 16 therapeutic gardens across Singapore, and we are on track to achieve our goal of 30 by 2030. In particular, the garden at Punggol Park features Singapore’s first outdoor boccia court and first outdoor wheelchair obstacle course in our parks, providing more inclusive recreational facilities within our green spaces.

Our therapeutic gardens are curated to foster meaningful interactions with nature, incorporating features that can enhance physical and mental well-being. Studies have shown that exposure to nature and gardening can reduce stress and improve mental health. We will continue to enhance our parks and gardens to provide more accessible and inclusive nature-based experiences for Singaporeans of all ages and abilities to enjoy.”

Therapeutic effects of greenery

Several research studies have shown the therapeutic effects of greenery on people. NParks has also worked with institutions on research that offers insights into the benefits of nature exposure on the health and well-being of residents in Singapore. This includes a study that reflected better well-being outcomes in participants when exposed to a therapeutic garden.

Features within the new Therapeutic Garden

The 2,000 sqm Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Park is located between the playground and the central plaza. The therapeutic garden features several firsts, making it a welcoming space for visitors from all backgrounds and with differing needs. These include:

1. Singapore’s first outdoor boccia court;
2. first outdoor wheelchair obstacle course located within our parks; and
3. first inclusive agility course to be located in a therapeutic garden, that can be used for both physiotherapy and recreational purposes.

The boccia court and wheelchair obstacle course were designed with input from the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC).

Another distinct feature of the therapeutic garden is a large mature Rain Tree (Samanea saman). This majestic tree was retained from the original landscape, and the design of the garden was centred around it. Planted over 30 years ago, the Rain Tree stands at about 12m tall and serves as a visual anchor within the garden. It also acts as a natural divider separating the two zones within the therapeutic garden. The therapeutic garden also retained the park’s original planting palette which features a variety of palms, and to enhance the landscape, more diverse collections of palms have been added to the meandering pathway along the entrance of the therapeutic garden.

Therapeutic horticulture programmes for the community

The garden is designed to support therapeutic horticulture, which involves using nature-related activities to improve physical and mental well-being. NParks will work with various community partners and community care organisations to facilitate therapeutic horticulture activities at the therapeutic garden. The activities are specially designed to promote low-intensity exercises, improve motor coordination skills, stimulate cognitive functions, and encourage positive social interactions and connection with nature. They include gardening, making scent bags, and designing seed mandala.

NParks has also reached out to community care organisations located in the vicinity of Punggol Park to encourage them and their beneficiaries to use the therapeutic gardens and participate in therapeutic horticulture programmes.

Organisations and individuals interested in supporting efforts to further our City in Nature vision through the development of therapeutic gardens can contact the Garden City Fund, NParks’ registered charity and IPC, at garden_city_fund@nparks.gov.sg.

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[1] There is an existing Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Waterway Park. With the opening of the Therapeutic Garden at Punggol Park, there are now two therapeutic gardens in the North East of Singapore.