The Year At A Glance April 2002 June 2002 Sungei Buloh Singapore Botanic NParks officers attain Launch of upgraded Wetland Reserve Gardens wins prestigious international status as Telok Ayer Green award and medal at the Certified Arborists 17th World Orchid Conference Show 2002 Following its gazettement as a Singapore Botanic Gardens Some 30 NParks officers The newly upgraded Telok nature reserve, Sungei Buloh won the prestigious Grand received international Ayer Green was launched by Nature Park became Sungei Champion Award for the top recognition following their Mr Heng Chee How, Mayor Buloh Wetland Reserve on landscape exhibit and the successful certification by of Central Singapore District, Earth Day, 20 April 2002. Gold Medal for quality at the the International Society on 21 June 2003. Its new status grants it more 17th World Orchid Conference of Arboriculture on 21 June protection and will help ensure Show 2002 held in Malaysia 2003. The certification is The redevelopment was to that it remains a valuable from 24 April to 2 May 2002. an endorsement from a enhance the green space education and leisure In addition, the team also won professional body for the level and make it a more conducive experience for its many users. 22 prizes for hybrids in the of competence in knowledge resting place for residents, Individual Plants category and skills attained by NParks’ office workers and tourists. including the best Renanthera arboriculture staff. The entrances were widened Visit by the Prime Minister (Renanthera Singapore to make the park more open of the Republic of India Botanic Gardens). and inviting. Wooden benches, trellises, a cascading waterfall Following the visit by His and subtle lighting were Excellency, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, also added. Prime Minister of India to the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 9 April 2002, an orchid hybrid was named Dendrobium Neha in honour of his grand-daughter. 1 2 1. Sungei Buloh Nature Park was renamed as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. 2. The Singapore Botanic Gardens landscape exhibit won the prestigious Grand Champion Award. 3. The Dendrobium Neha was named in honour of His Excellency Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s grand-daughter. 4. The newly upgraded Telok Ayer Green meets diverse users’ needs in the 3 4 heart of the city. National Parks Board Annual Report 2002/03 The Year At A Glance 15 September 2002 October 2002 Seminar on Skyrise Launch of Launch of the International Federation Greening in Singapore Park Watch Scheme Heritage Trees Scheme of Parks And Recreation Administration (IFPRA) Asia-Pacific Congress 2002 NParks completed its joint The Park Watch Scheme was To conserve and protect mature NParks showcased the study with the Centre for Total launched on 8 September 2002 trees, the Heritage Tree Garden City’s ambience and Building Performance, National at Telok Blangah Hill Park. This Scheme was launched on shared about the policies and University of Singapore, scheme aims to encourage 23 September 2002 by Minister mechanisms that made it and shared its findings with community involvement of State for National a success at the IFPRA Asia- more than 200 professionals through volunteerism in the Development and Trade and Pacific Congress 2002 from through the Skyrise Greening management of public parks. Industry, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. 21 to 24 October 2002. in Singapore seminar on In this scheme, volunteers To engage the community, Officiated by Minister for 7 September 2002. The study will advise park users on the a Heritage Trees Nomination National Development, confirmed the thermal benefits appropriate usage of park Scheme was also initiated. Mr Mah Bow Tan, the of skyrise greenery in the facilities, channel feedback To date, more than 270 conference attracted more tropical climate. Findings from to park managers and assist nominations have been than 200 participants from 18 the study were published in a in introducing interesting received. countries. One of the highlights book “Handbook on Skyrise programme and activities in of the conference was NParks’ Greenery in Singapore”. the parks. The scheme will be Chief Executive Officer, launched in five other parks Dr Tan Wee Kiat’s keynote by end of 2003 under the speech on “Creating Value in pilot phase. Providing and Managing Public Open Spaces in the Information Age: The Singapore Journey”. 5. Mayor for South West Community Development Council District, 5 6 Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, launched the Park Watch Scheme at Telok Blangah Hill Park. 6. Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (centre), with Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Mr David Eldon (left) and Chairman of NParks, Prof Leo Tan (right), at the launch of the Heritage Tree Scheme. 7. NParks’ CEO, Dr Tan Wee Kiat sharing his ideas at the IFPRA Asia-Pacific Congress 2002. 7 National Parks Board Annual Report 2002/03 The Year At A Glance 16 October 2002 November 2002 GardenTech 2002 Launch of West Coast Park Clean and Green Week Opening of East Coast Dog Run Corner Terrace Park Held from 24 to 27 October NParks officially launched the Clean and Green Week was Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister 2002, GardenTech 2002 played West Coast Park Dog Run launched at Woodlands Civic of State in the Prime Minister’s host to some 40,000 visitors, Corner on 6 October 2002. Centre on 2 November 2002 Office and Ministry of twice the attendance of the As a gathering place for dogs by Deputy Prime Minister, Community Development last event held in year 2000. and their owners to meet, have Dr. Tony Tan. To mark Tree And Sports and MP for NParks also launched the fun and exchange tips on dog Planting Day, a total of 79 Joo Chiat, officially opened e-Plant Reference Guide care and grooming, the Dog constituencies were led by East Coast Terrace Park on on NParks’ website, a Run Corner covers an area their Advisors in the planting 3 November 2002. Located comprehensive pictorial of 2.3 ha. of some 617 trees island wide along East Coast Terrace off database featuring more than during the week. To promote Siglap Road, this 0.3 ha park 1000 plants, the first of its nature appreciation and features facilities such as kind on the internet for locally environmental awareness, fitness stations, modern play grown plants. NParks organised over 140 equipment, a community activities and events during gathering point and a the week. reflexology path. 8. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of National Development, Prof Koo Tsai Kee touring the exhibits at GardenTech 2002. 9. Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tony Tan planting a sapling during Clean 89 and Green Week. National Parks Board Annual Report 2002/03 The Year At A Glance 17 December 2002 January 2003 March 2003 Sungei Buloh Wetland New orchid hybrid, Opening of upgraded Promoting skyrise Reserve part of the Kagawara Megawati Tavistock Avenue Park greenery at the 6th Spring East Asian Australasian Soekarnoputri Home Exhibition Shorebird Site Network Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Officially opened on 4 January To encourage skyrise greenery was accepted as a member Tong presented the new orchid 2003 by Prime Minister Goh among the public, NParks of the East Asian Australasian hybrid Kagawara Megawati Chok Tong, the newly upgraded partnered 18 organisations and Shorebird Site Network. With Soekarnoputri to Her Tavistock Avenue Park now participated at the 6th Spring this, the Reserve is recognised Excellency Megawati boasts of additional features Home Exhibition from 29 by Wetlands International as an Soekarnoputri, President such as an amphitheatre, March to 6 April 2003 to reach internationally important site of Indonesia, when he and a skating rink for out to homeowners who aspire for migratory shorebirds. visited Indonesia on inline-skating. Upgraded to integrate skyrise greenery 16 December 2002. Tavistock Avenue amenities into their homes. include children’s innovative spacenet and other play- equipment, fitness corners, and interlocking footpaths. 10 11 10. The new orchid hybrid Kagawara Megawati Soekarnoputri was presented to the President of Indonesia by Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong. 11. The 2.3 ha Tavistock Avenue Park was well-received by residents. 12. Encouraging an appreciation for greenery at the 6th Spring Home 12 Exhibition. National Parks Board Annual Report 2002/03.