Station 3: The Woodlands Waterfront
This sustainability journey started way before SGK.
How much do you know about the North of Singapore? One of the first things you know Woodlands for is its causeway, where you can frequent Malaysia on shopping trips. If you know abit more history, you might know the causeway as the access point which the Japanese used to invade Singapore on bicycles in February 1942.
Standing on the jetty here at Woodlands Waterfront Park, there is a clear view of the causeway. A point of history and time whose history deserves to see the light.
Sunrise at the Woodlands Waterfront.
This appears to be a peaceful scene, but now I imagine how this jetty had seen Singapore's history, from the park it is today, to the moments before the Japanese cycled into Singapore years before our independence.
The Historical Significance of Woodlands Waterfront Park
The first thing you notice is the spacious and open concrete jetty. It did not use to be this way.
According to Roots.gov.sg, the whole park used to be a former naval base for the Former Royal Malaysian Navy, and the jetty that defines it was used for its activities like the commissioning of new ships. It was first opened in 1966. The naval base and jetty were left unused until 1997 when the RMN returned to Johor in 1981. In 2008, the jetty opened to the public as Woodlands Waterfront Park.
The view of Johor from the Jetty
The second thing you notice is that it surrounded by thick mangrove forests.
Preservation plays a huge role in the design of this park. As far as the eye can see, you can see mudflats and forests of mangrove along the shoreline, while there’s an extensive playground next to the jetty.
This approach is also what NParks has also taken to protect Admiralty Park. There are trails through the mangrove which is still largely preserved towards the North end of the park. On the south side of the park is a huge playground for families to enjoy. The river that runs through Admiralty Park is also nicely sculpted. You can also see that the design of the park helps the natural wildlife by keeping lights low at night.
Why is this jetty an example of sustainability? By turning this place into a park, the preservation of nature and history has been integrated into our daily lives. Sustainability is about integration, making our spaces meaningful and fulfilling. Protecting nature doesn’t have to be a chore to us.
We are living in a place of history. I encourage you to visit this park and explore this part of the Singapore story, and of course, have fun!
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