Singapore is known as a garden city, but amid hectic work schedules and the rising cost of living, the island can sometimes feel like a concrete jungle.
Hopefully, the just-completed Lakeside Garden helps to remedy this—featuring Singapore’s largest outdoor skate park set in a backdrop of lush greenery, the garden might just be the weekend destination of your dreams.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The Skate Park
Let’s dive straight into the main attraction, the newly-opened skate park.
The skate park provides a platform for novices and experts to practise their skateboarding skills, spanning an impressive area of more than 17,000 square metres (more than two football fields).
The five skate pods available cater to skaters of all skill levels—they include the Learn to Skate pod, the Skate Drain Pod, the Mini Bowl Pod, the Big Bowl Pod, and the sheltered Plaza Pod, also the largest of the five at 922 square metres big.
While the Learn to Skate pod features slight inclines and mini ramps, the Big Bowl Pod presents a challenge to advanced skaters, with its steep drops ranging from 1.8 m to 2.5 m deep.
The other skate pods contain shallower bowls, street-style obstacles and curved ramps.
Back to the Plaza Pod, arguably the highlight of the skate park, it’s actually Singapore’s first sheltered outdoor skate pod, which means it can be used even in inclement weather.
Still, it doesn’t skimp on its amenities—the pod features multiple obstacles like quarter pipes, ledges, and ramps for skaters to try out.
The park also has a 280-metre-long undulating hump track, which skateboarders and BMX riders can use to practise pumping movements.
Parkour Park
Also within this area are the parkour park and bouldering walls.
The parkour park, measuring 334 square metres, has bars, walls, and platforms differing in height, providing an area for parkour enthusiasts to (hopefully) safely practise tricks.
There’s also a bouldering wall, which is 3m tall and stands upright at a 90-degree angle, with colourful climbing holds.
To ensure safety, the flooring of these areas is made with the same rubbery material as playground mats, helping to absorb impact and cushion falls more effectively.
If you’re still worried about safety, though, rest easy knowing that the National Parks Board (NParks) has actually worked with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to develop a protocol to address emergencies, and conduct emergency responses.
Other Features
Even if you’re not really a sports enthusiast, Lakeside Garden boasts other attractions for you to explore.
For younger children, there’s a nature play garden they expend their energy, while a therapeutic garden provides an integrated space for both children and adults to enjoy.
According to a Facebook post by NParks about the garden, those who like to take it slow can sit back at the Lakeside Green area and enjoy picturesque views of Jurong Lake (rated 4.7 stars on Google, because even lakes have ratings).
Avid animal lovers can stroll by the waterside and spot freshwater wildlife, like funny-looking birds and iridescent insects.
There’s also a Rainforest Pavilion, which houses the new Ride Side Skate Cafe. It offers food and drinks, skate-related retail, and skateboard rental, as well as skateboarding lessons.
There’s also a Starbucks outlet there which went viral at its opening because of the spectacular view. It’s pet-friendly too.
Sustainability Efforts
The Lakeside Garden was designed with sustainability in mind—the Rainforest Pavilion was constructed using mass-engineered timber, a type of timber harvested from sustainably-managed forests.
It provides a functional benefit of added structural integrity too.
Most footpaths in the garden were also made with a special type of concrete that captures carbon dioxide, reducing carbon emissions in its construction process.
Solar panels were also installed on the roof of the Plaza Pod to help lower the garden’s energy consumption.
If you’re ready and raring to pay the garden a visit, here’s how to get there.
The garden is located on Yuan Ching Road, accessible from the Lakeside MRT station. When you get there, take Exit A and head towards Yuan Ching Road. It’s around a five-minute walk.
For those who drive, the nearest car park is North Carpark, located opposite Tah Ching Road. Turn in at Chinese Garden Road to get there. Alternatively, there’s parking along Yuan Ching Road as well.