New trail passing through part of restored coastal forest opens in Labrador Nature Park

2 weeks ago 55

SINGAPORE - A new

walking

trail with scenic views of the coastline along Labrador Nature Park and 100 species of trees and shrubs is now open to public.

The 340m-long Keppel Coastal Trail,

which passes through part of a restored coastal forest,

lies away from

busier

areas of the park

for

a more serene experience.

It features an elevated boardwalk that is 1.5m off ground level, built with rising sea levels in mind. Access ramps to the boardwalk are barrier-free for wheelchair users.

Lucky birdwatchers can spot white-bellied sea eagles on the trail, and others such as the yellow-rumped flycatcher during bird migratory season which is mostly in March and April, and between August and November.

The trail connects to the jetty at the southern end of Labrador Nature Park.

Speaking at the opening of the trail on Jan 25, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said the trail’s completion complements Government efforts to transform Labrador Nature Park into a Destination Park. It will be one of three such large parks with unique feature to attract visitors.

Labrador Nature Park is part of a cluster of 13 parks in southwest Singapore, which are being enhanced to expand the variety of nature-based recreation for visitors.

For instance, Pasir Panjang Park, another park in this cluster, will be extended by two hectares of park land at the former industrial waterfront of the Pasir Panjang Power District. This will expand the park to eight hectares.

Mr Lee said: “It will serve as a major activity node with play features and paths for park visitors to cycle or stroll along the coast. We will develop this node sensitively and strengthen the coastline along the park extension.”

When fully completed, the expanded Pasir Panjang Park will link other green spaces, like West Coast Park and Jurong Lake Gardens, to Labrador Nature Park via the continuous Park Connector Network.

The National Parks Board (NParks) will be calling for a tender for design consultancy services later this year.

There is much to look forward to, Mr Lee said, noting the Keppel Coastal Trail and the new park extension at Pasir Panjang Power District.

“These are part of our efforts to transform Singapore into a City in Nature, where we bring people closer to nature, while bolstering the ecological resilience of our habitats.”

Labrador Nature Reserve is one of four in Singapore. It houses a coastal hill forest a...

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