Bukit Batok Town Park

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Bukit Batok Town Park
Little Guilin Park, Singapore (3823573035).jpg
At Bukit Batok Town Park
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LocationBukit Batok East Avenue 5, Singapore
Nearest city Bukit Gombak
Coordinates 1°21′21″N103°45′18″E / 1.355912°N 103.754880°E / 1.355912; 103.754880
Area42 ha [1]
Established1984
StatusOpened

Bukit Batok Town Park is a nature park located in the precinct of Guilin in the town of Bukit Batok, Singapore. The park was created from a disused granite quarry. As such, it has a resemblance to the granite rock formations in Guilin, China. Hence it is also known as Little Guilin or Xiao Guilin (Chinese :小桂林) among the Chinese.

Contents

History

Together with the neighbouring Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park occupies 42 hectares of land in Bukit Batok planning area, which covers the subzones Bukit Gombak, Hong Kah, Brickworks and Hillview. The park was a granite quarry formerly known as Gammon Quarry, [2] and was the site for the extraction of Gombak norite, a norite unique to the area. The name of the area, Bukit Batok, which means "coughing hills", was derived from the sounds of quarrying activities.

The Little Guilin is located within Bukit Batok Town Park Little Guilin.jpg
The Little Guilin is located within Bukit Batok Town Park

When the extraction of granite below sea level began to pose a threat to the local ecology, the government decided to close down the quarries in Bukit Batok and began sourcing granite from Indonesia instead. As a result, the quarry was abandoned and was gradually filled with rainwater over time, turning into a mini lake. In 1984, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) planned to fill up the quarry and build a road over it. However, upon seeing the rugged granite outcrops and a contrasting backdrop of green hills, which created a scenic and pleasant view, the HDB decided to convert the quarry into a park instead. They beautified the surroundings and improved accessibility by adding granite blocks to the retaining walls, as well as footpaths, lighting and seating. The park came to be known as "Little Guilin" or "Xiao Guilin" by locals because the granite formations resemble the mountains in Guilin in China's Guangxi Province. [3]

In 1996, the Urban Redevelopment Authority linked the Town Park and Nature Parks via park connectors to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Sungei Pandan to enhance the residential landscape for the area around Yishun and Bukit Batok. [3]

The park is located in Bukit Gombak along Bukit Batok East Avenue 5. Besides being used for exercise and walks, the park has also been used as a stage for Chinese opera, dance and music performances. The park has also been suggested as an alternative destination for tourists wishing to see a different side of Singapore.

Urban legends in Singapore say that the park is haunted by the spirits of those who died in accidents while working at the quarry or drowned in the lake.

Construction

The 42-hectare park has two dome-shaped shelters for protection against sun or rain. [1] [3]

This park is divided into three sections:

The middle and right sections are located directly behind Bukit Batok East Ave 5, and were built as retaining walls for the lake. The left section is not connected to the other two sections and is accessible from the roadside. The middle and right sections are connected by a small internal path and can also be accessed from the roadside.

This park is a favourite spot with photographers intending upon nature photography, anglers fishing in the lake, picnickers and joggers. The park has been designated with the code 9V-0006 by the international Parks On The Air award program, and so is regularly 'activated' by Amateur Radio operators using portable equipment.

Bukit Gombak Trail

Part of the Little Guilin Park, the Bukit Gombak Trail was created through the National Parks Board's Adopt-A-Park Scheme with the former Sembawang-Hong Kah Community Development Council and Bukit Gombak Community Club Youth Executive committee in 1999. It was a nature walk through the park, with directional signposts located at several points. According to the National Parks Board, these lookout points offered magnificent aerial perspectives of the lake and a bird's eye view of the surrounding estate. [4] In 2007, following landslides, the National Parks Board permanently closed the trail. [5]

Getting there

The park is located a five-minute walk from Bukit Gombak MRT station. Alternatively, it can be accessed via feeder bus service 945 or trunk bus service 871, operated by Tower Transit Singapore. [6] [7]

See also

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Igneous rocks are found in Bukit Timah, Woodlands, and Pulau Ubin island. Granite makes up the bulk of the igneous rock. Gabbro is also found in the area and is found in an area called Little Guilin, named for its resemblance to Guilin in South China. This area is in Bukit Gombak. Sedimentary rocks are found on the western part of Singapore, which is mainly made of sandstone and mudstones. It also includes the southwestern area. Metamorphic rocks are found in the northeastern part of Singapore, and also on Pulau Tekong, off the east coast of Singapore. The rocks are mainly made up of quartzite, and also make up the Sajahat Formation.

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Guilin is a subzone of Bukit Batok. It is bounded by East Avenue 2, Central, West Avenue 2/5, the north side of Bukit Gombak Sports Complex, the west and north perimeters of Town Park, the west perimeter of landed housing estates along Hillview Avenue, and Hillview Avenue.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bukit Batok Town Park". National Parks Board. 29 August 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  2. ↑ "Epic locations in Singapore that take you to #otherworlds". The Straits Times. 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bukit Batok Town Park". National Library Board. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Bukit Batok Town Park". National Parks Board. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  5. ↑ Tay, George (13 October 2007). "Bukit Gombak Trail closed for public safety". The Straits Times. p. 58. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "Bus Service 945". Tower Transit Singapore. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  7. ↑ "Bus Service 871". Tower Transit Singapore. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.

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