Travel: A Walk in SunPlaza Park

QW went on her walk again :) This time, we went to explore SunPlaza Park[1][2]. In case you are under the impression that QW does not go for her walks in the parks often enough, I assure you that it is all because my blog posting speed is very much slower than the number of parks she had visited. Also, it is because we tend to bring her to the parks near our place or our parents' place.

Some may think that SunPlaza Park will be located near Sun Plaza, a shopping mall located in Sembawang. Just as Punggol Park is not located in Punggol (but in Hougang), SunPlaza Park is actually located in Tampines. Yup, no where near Sun Plaza.

PCN bike shop

As you can see from the above photos, SunPlaza Park is connected to the Park Connector Network (PCN) and has a PCN bike shop. The nearest parks are Tampines Eco Green Park, Bedok Reservoir Park and Paris Ris Park.

SunPlaza park is one of the sensory parks which I am aware of. The other sensory park is Toa Payoh Sensory Park. Unlike SunPlaza Park and Punggol Park, Toa Payoh Sensory Park is actually located in Toa Payoh.

Being a sensory park, that there are features which appeal to your senses of touch, sight, smell, sound and maybe taste. From its National Park and Wikipedia websites, SunPlaza Park is said to have 10 stations of interactive play features which give their visitors a treat to their senses.

These stations include textured walls, organic texture walk, talking tubes, tumbler, entry sign with recessed wordings and symbols, ladder wall, slider beads, herbal walls, "toes", and chimes. They will probably keep their visitors occupied for quite a while. As there are no signage, here are my attempts at identifying them (no guarantee on accuracy!):

Entry sign with recessed wordings and symbols

Chimes

Organic texture walk?

Tumbler

Slider beads

Talking tubes

Ladder wall

Textured wall

"Toes"?

Herbal wall?

Unlike Punggol Park, SunPlaza Park does not have a pond. But having said that, the number of facilities and activities which you can find at Sun Plaza Park is comparable to that at Punggol Park. Similarly to my blog post on Punggol Park, I will (again) let the photos do the talking on some of the facilities and activities that you can find in it.

Signage that summarizes the park's facilities and activities

Fitness corner with a rest bench near it

Woodball course has 12 fairways
that complies with internationally accepted standards.

This town park does cater to all ages. I have on many occasions seen visitors cycle, jog, in-line skate, play guitar, walk, relax etc. around the park. I must say that majority of the activities seem to take place at three main areas: playground, beach ball court and amphitheatre.

Young ones are often seen having fun usually at the playground, while the elderly watched them from the rest benches nearby. The two swings in the playground are well loved by all ages. By the way, the swings are not the typical ones which looks like a metal piece seat. Take a look at QW enjoying a ride on the swing and you will know what I mean.

Far view of the playground

Close up on one side of the playground 

Close up on the other side of the play ground -
the two swings are on the right of this picture.

QW on the swing :)
QW ootd: Carters onesie and Tollijoy pants

BBQ pits opposite playground

I have not seen anyone fly a kite in SunPlaza Park before. But, I think it might be possible to do so near the Beach Ball Court. You might be wondering why are those circular pathways around the two trees in the below picture. I was told that the circles are created by those who practice Qi/Chakra while walking in circles around the trees.

Beach ball court

It was mentioned in the National Park and Wikipedia websites that the amphitheatre has the capacity to hold 700 people (seating and standing). With such a large space, it does make an ideal venue for events such as band performances, exhibitions, etc. True enough, I often see music enthusiasts often gather at amphitheatre (or one of the pavilions) to sing songs and/or play musical instruments ranging from guitar to Kompang and Rebana.

Music enthusiasts playing at one of the pavilions 

Amphitheatre with stage

Toilet near amphitheatre
I heard it is very clean (but yet to verify)

I like that this town park has rest benches and sheltered areas (like Punggol Park) which are quite closely scattered around it. As I have mentioned before, sheltered areas are great to have within sight in case of sudden downpour.

Shelter/Pavilion near amphitheatre

Shelter/Pavilion undergoing maintenance

Again unlike Punggol Park, SunPlaza park does not have a restaurant within its compound. But, if you ever feel hungry, you can always grab a bite at the town centre located opposite to the park, at nearby coffee shop or at void deck shop houses.

SunPlaza Park with its many facilities does cater to its growing visitors as more flats and condominiums are being built around it. If you happen to be in Tampines, do pop by and breathe in some fresh air.

References:

1. National Parks - Sun Plaza Park
2. Wikipedia - Sun Plaza Park

Travel: A Walk in Punggol Park

Brought QW out for some fresh air at Punggol Park[1], which is funnily located in Hougang.

QW playing in the playground
QW ootd: Pumpkin patch yellow romper

QW getting in touch with Mother Nature

Apart from the usual jogging/running/walking and cycling path, I will let photos do the talking on the facilities and activities that you can find in Punggol Park:

Playground (There are two swings in the behind too!)

Foot reflexology stone path

Restroom near the playground and foot reflexology stone path

Fitness corner

Took a picture of a man taking a picture of another drawing a picture :p

Pond

Parking rates

Car park

Wild Oats @ Punggol Park [3] 

Plaza area (Where activities such as tai chi takes place)

Inline skating at the plaza area

Woodball course

What I like about this town park are the rest benches and sheltered-areas which are quite closely scattered around the park. In case of sudden downpour, it is always great to have a sheltered-area within sight (especially with a baby in tow)!

For the record, I have not seen the water-sports activities (such as dragon boating) mentioned in their Wikipedia page taking place in the pond. But, my mum told me that she saw the dragon boating event before. Perhaps, I did not go at the right time?

I did see people fishing in the pond although Punggol Park does not seem to be on the list of designated fishing areas[4][5]. Do note that one may be fined if found not complying with the fishing guidelines observed in Singapore[6].

Also, I would not fly a kite there because my kite flying skill is not that great. I cannot find an open space which I deemed big enough to fly my kite such that it neither get stuck in the trees nor land the pond.

For a town park, it really does cater to young and old in the family. With it being connected to the Park Connector Network (PCN) and the opening of the PCN bike shop, also with the many HDBs and Condos which sprouted up around it, I think Punggol Park will get a lot more activities with days to come.

References:

1. NParks - Punggol Park
2. Wikipedia - Punggol Park
3. Wild Oats @ Punggol Park
4. Nparks - Designated fishing grounds
5. PUB - Fishing guidelines
6. Straits Times - PUB's effort against illegal fishing

[Slightly off-topic, I got to learn in Hualien, Taiwan, that bird nest fern (the fern in the 4th photo from the top which QW tried to touch) is edible! It is one of the aboriginal dish~ More on it in my future post on Hualien.]