SINGAPORE – Ang Mo Kio, built in the 1970s, is in the first phase of a long-term rejuvenation exercise designed to transform its town centre into a community hub for the entire estate.

The town centre’s upgrading exercise was first announced in August 2022 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

The initial phase will start from the square outside AMK Hub and [email protected] to the outdoor shopping street, right up to Ang Mo Kio Central Stage. It will end near Block 720 in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, which is also close to Jubilee Square. Work on this phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The town centre will have more sheltered rest areas and feature inclusive elements such as barrier-free access for the elderly and wheelchair users.

The playground beside Ang Mo Kio Central Stage will also be rebuilt and named the Saga Seed Playground, featuring a design inspired by the saga tree. Also called Adenanthera pavonina, the saga tree has long, curved pods which release bright red inedible seeds that are heart-shaped.

As part of the rejuvenation plan, the National Parks Board (NParks) will develop a new park which is about 8ha in size at Lentor Hills Estate. The park will link the Central Catchment Nature Reserve to Khatib Nature Corridor, and will combine an existing forested hillock with a new therapeutic garden and a nature playgarden. It will be completed progressively from the end of 2024.

“The park will also be connected to a new 1km-long park connector at Lentor Canal that will be completed by end-2024,” says Ms Kartini Omar, group director of Parks Development at NParks.

“The park connector will also connect residents to...