Changi Beach Park | |
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Changi Beach | |
Changi Beach Park | |
Type | Beach |
Location | Changi, Singapore |
Coordinates | 1°23′00″N104°00′06″E / 1.38333°N 104.00167°E |
Area | 28 hectares |
Managed by | National Parks Board |
Status | Open |
Changi Beach Park [lower-alpha 1] is a beach park located at the northern tip of Changi in the eastern region of Singapore.
The 28-hectare beach park is one of the oldest coastal parks in Singapore, retaining the "kampung" or village atmosphere of the 1960s and '70s.
The park is bounded by the sea on one side, opposite Pulau Ubin, and by Nicoll Drive and Changi Coast Road on the other. It stretches for about 3.3 km from Changi Point to Changi Ferry Terminal. [1]
Changi Beach served as one of the killing grounds of Sook Ching massacre for the Japanese Imperial Army during the Japanese occupation of Singapore of the Second World War, where 66 Chinese male civilians were killed on the beach by the Japanese Hojo Kempei on 20 February 1942.
The war monument plaque was erected at the Changi Beach Park (near Camp Site 2) in the eastern part of Singapore. The inscription on the monument plaque reads:
66 male civilians were killed by Japanese Hojo Kempei (auxiliary military police) firing at the water's edge on this stretch of Changi Beach on 20 February 1942. They were among tens of thousands who lost their lives during the Japanese Sook Ching operation to purge suspected anti-Japanese civilians among Singapore's Chinese population between 18 February and 4 March 1942. Tanah Merah Besar Beach, a few hundred metres south (now part of Singapore Changi Airport runway) was one of the most heavily-used killing grounds where well over a thousand Chinese men and youths lost their lives.
— National Heritage Board. [2]
In March 1948, the Malaya Tribune reported that the beach at Changi Point was a popular place for people to spend their weekends, with attap houses available for rent and an enclosed area for swimming constructed using ship and aircraft remains. [3] In 1950, the local government announced plans for the development of the beach, with the construction of a road connecting the beach to Tanah Merah Besar Road, as well as amenities for changing and the provision of refreshments. In addition, the attap houses on the beach were also to be cleared. [4]
In May 1953, further plans to turn 20 acres (8.1 ha) of the beach into a resort were announced. The resort was to eventually have a capacity of several thousand patrons, and was to initially have changing facilities, a park and a bathing pagar. [5] The road connecting Changi beach to Tanah Merah Besar Road was completed by the end of 1954, [6] and work on the resort was completed in May 1958, at a cost of less than $1 million, lower than estimated. [7] In October 1959, volunteers mobilised by the Singapore government cleared Changi beach of vegetation and rubbish. The government also announced plans to expand the resort with facilities such as carparks, hawker stalls, and a playground for adolescents. [8]
In April 1970, plans to rent out four sites on the beach to private developers were announced by the government. [9] By August 1971, four blocks of buildings containing dining establishments were built, and work on an 8 acres (3.2 ha) beach resort with fountains, sanitation facilities and restrooms was being carried out. [10] A $600,000, 5 acres (2.0 ha) development near Changi Point, consisting of a 1000-seat restaurant, a coffeeshop, food stalls and 16 chalets, was completed by January 1972, and Aloha Rhu, a $250,000, 1.25 acres (0.51 ha) development with a Polynesian theme, was opened by Chinese New Year that year. [11] In 1975, two-thirds of the beach was acquired by the government for the construction of a second runway as part of the development of Changi Airport. [12] With the closure of a large part of the beach, the beach lost its popularity among beachgoers. [13]
In November 1984, as part of plans to rejuvenate Changi Point, a 4,000 square metres (43,000 sq ft) portion of the beach was turned into a special park for children with eight playgrounds, sand pits, and park furniture. [13] Constructed at a cost of $73,000, the facilities within the park were completed in May 1985. [14] Between August 1987 and March 1988, the amenities at the park were improved. [15]
In April 2001, the park was given a $4 million upgrade, which included new shelters and other facilities, intended to give the park a rustic charm. [16]
Changi Beach Park is popular among locals as a hangout for overnight family picnics, especially on weekends. Some individuals enjoy fishing, watching landing airplanes, jogging and watching the sunrise or sunset here. Sunrise can be viewed from the SAF Changi Ferry Terminal on the eastern end of the park and sunsets can be viewed from Changi Point. Barbecue parties, camping and watersports are some common activities. In addition, food lovers visit Changi Beach for seafood at the nearby The Seagrill, or for different food options at Changi Village.
The park has been designated with the code 9V-0009 by the international Parks On The Air award program, and so is regularly 'activated' by Amateur Radio operators using portable equipment.
Since May 2009, the National Biodiversity Centre, together with volunteers from National Parks Board and nature groups such as Wild Singapore and TeamSeaGrass, initiated a project to monitor identified populations of Seahorse ( Hippocampus kuda ) and Pipefish ( Syngnathoides biaculeatus ) in several locations including Changi Beach for conservation management purposes. The data gathered will help to estimate the population size, growth rate of individuals and track their movements in their natural habitats.
Changi is a planning area located in the geographical region of Tanah Merah in the East Region of Singapore. Sharing borders with Pasir Ris and Tampines to the west, Changi Bay to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east and the Serangoon Harbour to the north. Changi, excluding the two water catchments and islands of Singapore, is the largest planning area by land size.
The East–West Line (EWL) is a high-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line operated by SMRT in Singapore, running from Pasir Ris station in the east to Tuas Link station in the west, with an additional branch between Changi Airport and Tanah Merah stations. It is the second Mass Rapid Transit line to be built in Singapore. Coloured green on the rail map, the line serves 35 stations, 8 of which are underground. At 57.2 kilometres (35.5 mi), the line is the longest on the MRT network.
Sook Ching was a mass killing that occurred from 18 February to 4 March 1942 in Singapore after it fell to the Japanese. It was a systematic purge and massacre of 'anti-Japanese' elements in Singapore, with the Singaporean Chinese particularly targeted by the Japanese military during the occupation. However, Japanese soldiers engaged in indiscriminate killing, and did not try to identify who was 'anti-Japanese.' Singapore was a crucial strategic point in World War II. From 8 February to 15 February, the Japanese fought for control of the city. The combined British and Commonwealth forces surrendered in a stunning defeat to the outnumbered Japanese on 15 February which led to its fall. The loss of Singapore was and still is Britain's largest surrender in history.
City Hall MRT station is an underground Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the North–South line (NSL) and East–West line (EWL). Situated in the Downtown Core district, it is underneath Stamford Road near the road junctions with North Bridge Road and St Andrew's Road. The station is near landmarks such as the former City Hall, Raffles City, the Padang, St Andrew's Cathedral and the Cenotaph.
Outram Park MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station in Singapore. The station is on the East–West, North East and Thomson–East Coast lines, and is located near the junction of Outram Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road on the boundary of Bukit Merah and Outram planning areas. It is the closest MRT station to Singapore General Hospital, the Police Cantonment Complex, Outram Community Hospital and the Health Promotion Board. The station was included in the early plans of the MRT network in 1982; it was constructed as part of the Phase I MRT segment from Novena, and was completed in December 1987.
Changi Airport MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station serving Changi Airport and its supplementary structure Jewel in Changi, Singapore. The station is the terminus of the Changi Airport branch of the East West line (EWL); it is operated by SMRT Trains and is built in an east–west direction. The ends of the station directly connect to Terminals 2 and 3 of Changi Airport.
Simei MRT station is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East–West line in Tampines planning area, Singapore, at the centre of Simei housing estate flanked by Simei Street 1 and Simei Street 3 next to Eastpoint Mall. This station primarily serves Simei, a residential estate part of the larger Tampines New Town.
East Coast Park is a beach and a park on the southeastern coast of Singapore. It stretches along the south of Marine Parade, Bedok and Tampines. It was opened in the 1970s, after the Singapore government had completed reclaiming land off the coast at Katong, from Kallang to Changi. While serves the needs of communities in the east, other Singapore residents do visit the park for sports, recreation, and food.
Expo MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the East West line (EWL) and Downtown line (DTL) in the Tampines planning area, Singapore. The station lies between Changi City Point and the Singapore Expo, located along Changi South Avenue 1 at the junction of Expo Drive.
Changi Village is a modern village situated at the northern tip of Changi which is at the eastern end of Singapore. It is the usual connecting point for travellers heading to Pulau Ubin or Malaysia by ferry. Fishermen in the kelongs located in the Serangoon Harbour offshore also use this jetty as a drop off point to come onto mainland. Changi Village also has many resorts and leisure facilities to cater for a weekend getaway for many Singaporeans. The area is classified by Urban Redevelopment Authorities as under the planning area of Changi and in the subzone of Changi Point. It is also classified under District 17 for property indexing.
Tanah Merah MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line (EWL). Located in Bedok, Singapore, the station is along New Upper Changi Road and serves various residential developments, including Casa Merah. It is the terminus of the EWL branch to Changi Airport station.
Bugis MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the East–West (EWL) and Downtown (DTL) lines. Situated in Bugis, Singapore, the station is underneath the junction of Rochor Road and Victoria Street. Various developments surrounding the station include Bugis Junction, Raffles Hospital and the National Library. The station is also close to Kampung Glam.
Syonan, officially Syonan Island, was the name for Singapore when it was occupied and ruled by the Empire of Japan, following the fall and surrender of British military forces on 15 February 1942 during World War II.
Lavender MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line in Kallang, Singapore. Located under Kallang Road, the station is close to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building, the former Golden Mile Complex and Jalan Besar Stadium. Planned and built as part of Phase Two of the initial system. The contract for the station's construction was awarded in October 1985, and it was opened in November 1989.
Pasir Ris Park is a beach park located in the eastern part of Singapore. It covers an area of 70 hectares, and was partially built on reclaimed land. Initially planned in the late 1970s to serve people living in the vicinity, the park was designed with the help of two Japanese landscape specialists. Construction began on the park in September 1984, and the park was opened in phases from August 1986 to 1991. The park was further expanded in 2007, with the addition of new areas such as a herb garden.
The Memorial to the Civilian Victims of the Japanese Occupation, usually called the Civilian War Memorial, is a war memorial and heritage landmark in Singapore next to Esplanade MRT station. It was built in memory of the civilians killed during the Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II. The Civilian War Memorial sits on serene parkland in the midst of busy city traffic near Singapore's Padang and City Hall. Located within the War Memorial Park at Beach Road within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district, it is usually easy to spot in most backdrops encompassing the CBD landscape. It was gazetted as the 65th national memorial on 15 August 2013.
Tanah Merah, is a geographical region located along the south-eastern coast of the East Region of Singapore. Although its boundaries are not exactly clear, it is widely accepted that the term refers to the southern coast of present-day Bedok, Tampines, Changi and Changi Bay.
Changi Bay is a planning area located in the geographical region of Tanah Merah in the East Region of Singapore. The planning area is bordered by Changi to the west and the South China Sea to the east, north and south. This planning area also includes the South China Sea island of Pedra Branca.
The Kempeitai East District Branch was the headquarters of the Kempeitai, the Japanese military police, during the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945. It was located at the old YMCA building, at the present site of Singapore's YMCA Building on Stamford Road. Opened in 1911, the distinctive Art Deco YMCA building was the site of interrogation and torture of many innocent civilians, including the war heroine Elizabeth Choy. After the war, the Singapore government erected several memorials with some at the former massacre sites. In 1995, the former site of the old YMCA building was gazetted by the National Heritage Board as one of the eleven World War II sites of Singapore.
Punggol Point Park, formerly known as Punggol Point, is located in Punggol, north-east of Singapore.