SINGAPORE - Residents in Villa Verde estate, located in Yew Tee, can now use the land under an expressway viaduct for recreational activities, after the unused land was given a new lease of life.

The 1.3ha extension to Villa Verde Park – which is slightly larger than two football fields – is located under the Kranji Expressway viaduct and connected to the existing park via the Villa Verde bridge over the Pang Sua Canal.

Previously unused, the area has been transformed into a recreational green space where residents can do group exercises at a multi-purpose plaza, take a stroll around a garden, work out at a fitness corner, or take their pooches to a dog park.

The extension, which was opened by the National Parks Board (NParks) on Saturday, features a sheltered aroid garden with shade-loving plants like the flamingo lily, which has bright blooms and heart-shaped green leaves.

For residents with green fingers, there is an allotment garden that comes with 53 plots. The garden is unsheltered, so plants can get maximum sunlight. It is also designed with raised planter beds so that those who do gardening do not need to strain their backs.

There are also facilities for children, such as a sheltered railway-themed playground, and a nature playgarden inspired by the Rail Corridor which has a log train, sandpit and butterfly garden for children to explore and play in a naturalistic setting.

Young ones can also have a go safely on their tricycles and balancing bikes at the toddler’s cycling track under the supervision of adults, who will be able to exercise using the fitness markings on the ground next to the track.

NParks said it took in feedback and suggestions from Villa Verde residents, as well as community groups Friends of the Parks and Friends of Rail Corridor, when designing the park extension.

These suggestions included having naturalistic features, therapeutic spaces and areas for social interactions, which were incorporated into the design of the green space.

Villa Verde estate resident Soh Poh Choong, a doctor at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, was among several residents who provided suggestions for the design of the park, and she was involved in the selection of the equipment at the sheltered fitness corner.

It was also her idea to add ground markings to the area beside the toddler’s cycling track so that residents can do physiotherapy exercises on their own. These ground markings are suitable for the elderly, those recovering from injuries, and athletes for their training purposes, said NParks.

Dr Soh said: “The agility ladder and star excursion are common tools used by sports coaches, fitness trainers and physiotherapists to help individuals improve footwork, balance and speed.

“They can be used for training athletes, rehabilitation for injured individuals, and to improve dynamic balance, which is crucial for older adults for daily activities and preventing falls.”

Ms Chua Yen Ling, group director for parks and corporate strategy and planning at NParks, said: “We are happy to have had the opportunity to work closely with the community to design the extension to Villa Verde Park so that it meets their needs.

“In doing so, we managed to transform unused land that may not be suitable for other purposes into a park space for all ages to enjoy.”

Dr Soh agreed, pointing to the ground markings: “Having these tools available in a public park allows individuals access to them without having to purchase them or travel to a gym.”

Participants from NParks’ Youth Stewards for Nature programme also provided input, and designed the layout of the nature playgarden and butterfly garden. They also suggested adding grass mounds that resemble the hilly terrain the train tracks pass through. Children can use these for exploratory play.

The extension also features a rain garden that filters and cleans groundwater, and four bioswales that run through the park and act as naturalised drains. These are nature-based and cost-effective solutions to manage and purify storm-water while storing groundwater for plants.

As the extension is located under the viaduct with limited access to rainwater, it is crucial to store groundwater for plants to thrive without any artificial irrigation, said NParks.

Since April 2021, hikers can access the Rail Corridor from another location, with the opening of a bridge next to the Villa Verde estate that straddles both sides of the Pang Sua Canal, of which a part of the Rail Corridor runs alongside.

Villa Verde resident and retired banker Tan Chee Keon, 64, said it is heartening to see the completion of the extension to the Villa Verde Park and that its design incorporated suggestions from residents.

Mr Tan, who is vice-chairman of the Villa Verde Residents’ Network, said: “With the numerous and diverse facilities, Villa Verde Park is a park for everyone, allowing families to enjoy the park together, which helps in community building and makes it a welcoming space for all age groups.”