Nearly 9 in 10 Singaporeans to find a park close to homes by 2030

9% of Singapore’s land supply reserved for parks.

Minister for National Development Mr Khaw Boon Wan delivered his speech at the Parliamentary Debate on the Population White Paper yesterday.

He stressed that despite the country’s rapid urbanisation, the government is determined to make Singapore a City in a Garden.

To achieve this, the government intends to carry out plans that will bring nature into Singapore’s urban spaces.

Khaw says that by 2030, at least 85% of all residents will find a park within 400m of their homes. The government also aims at doubling the length of park connectors to 360km within this decade.

Khaw, however, admits that the government cannot protect all of the country’s green area. But overall, it will maintain about 9% of Singapore’s land for parks and nature reserves which is highly significant for a small urbanised city.

“What is our future? It is not to be a concrete jungle. It is to be a City in a Garden. It is to be Punggol - multiply that many times. And the best is yet to be. HDB has completed the preliminary planning of Punggol North. The models and the plans have been in HDB Hub for several months now for public viewing. They have been very well received by both experts, architects, and laymen. The planners are now working on Tampines North, Bidadari and Tengah, which will incorporate fresh ideas for better living. They will be awesome,” Khaw adds.