KOVAN residents are now the proud hosts of Singapore's first neighbourhood 'adventure park', complete with a flying fox and rock wall.
The park, which is made up of seven obstacle stations and some exercise areas, was unveiled yesterday by Foreign Minister George Yeo and his team of Aljunied GRC MPs.
Called The Ark@Kovan, the $300,000 park is part of a five-year masterplan - unveiled before the May general election - to transform Aljunied GRC into a more family friendly place.
Of the $160 million budgeted for the plan, nearly half will go to lift upgrading projects.
The park, located beside Block 207 in Hougang, is the first of five 'jewels' promised to Aljunied GRC residents. The others are also sports facilities, ranging from jogging tracks to arenas. They will be located at Bedok Reservoir Park, Eunos Park and the empty plots of land beside Punggol Community Club and Kampong Kembangan Community Club.
According to Aljunied GRC MP Cynthia Phua, the entire park was conceptualised by the 30 youth leaders at Paya Lebar Kovan Community Club.
Although the park is now ready, the youth leaders' work is not done. They will now run adventure programmes at the park, targeted at private companies, schools and members of the public.
A team of five will need to pay just $10 each to get facilitators to guide them through the obstacles for half a day. For private companies, the fee starts from $50 per person.
Mr Dennis Lee, the youth leader heading the programmes at the park, said: 'The park's programmes will be similar to the ones offered by the Outward Bound School at Pulau Ubin, but our obstacles are much easier to complete and our fees are much cheaper.'
He is confident the average HDB auntie will be interested in the park's programmes, because the obstacles do not look too daunting.
Housewife Mary Tan, 45, who lives in nearby Serangoon, thinks the obstacles still look difficult, but is willing to give them a try.
'But I will make sure my husband and two children are there to hold me,' she laughed.
