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chapter2

playing green

Playing Green refers to all the activities, recreation and culture which accrue as benefits to the people of .

p31 Job no: 82262 Title: A/R 02/03 Client: GreenHouse Scn: #175cb Size: 215(w)280(h)mm Co: M6 CO O/P: V2 Dept: DTP D/O: 31.08.04 (Job no: 82262C1 D/O: 1.9.04 CM22) PLAYING GREEN_FA/M6 9/23/04 6:46 PM Page 3

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2 nparks annual report 2003/2004

NParks is keenly aware that it must go beyond just providing green infrastructure. Green spaces are valuable as venues for recreational activities and for community bonding. NParks, with its increased recreational focus, will continue to provide enjoyable, educational and meaningful programmes and events to as broad a range of the public as possible. With these new programmes, we hope to enhance the lives of those who make the parks, nature reserves and other elements of our island’s green heritage an essential and intrinsic part of their everyday lives. In this way, the enmeshing of our lives’ essential moments with our green heritage will deepen the people’s sense of identification and rootedness to Singapore.

enhancing quality of life

For the year in review, some 3,600 performances and events delighted visitors to our many parks. NParks continued to partner world-class talent to use our parks as performance spaces, thereby adding to our park users’ enjoyment and quality of life by giving them an expanded range of high-quality Hosting a range of performances and events, Fort Canning Park attracted some 500,000 entertainment options. visitors in 2003.

Fort Canning Park plays a lead role in this regard, hosting well-known British rock bands such as Deep Purple, Suede, and Uriah Heep. Movie fans were thrilled by the 10-day Starlight Cinema Festival, while the World Of Music, Arts & Dance (WOMAD) made yet another well- received appearance.

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p32 Job no: 82262 Title: National Parks Board A/R 02/03 Client: GreenHouse Job no Scn: #175cb Size: 215(w)280(h)mm Co: M6 CO O/P: V2 Scn: # Dept: DTP D/O: 31.08.04 (Job no: 000000 D/O: 00.00.04 CM11) Dept: PLAYING GREEN_FA/M6 9/23/04 6:46 PM Page 4

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2 living green | playing green | thinking green

The perennially popular Singapore Botanic Gardens’ concerts are attracting even more visitors. Local favourites such as the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the Shell- Ministry of Education School Band Fiesta and foreign acts such as Sisay, from Ecuador, Chambermaids, from Australia, and the Jonas Hellborg & Felix Fan duo from Sweden and the USA entertained audiences.

The inaugural Singapore Orchid Festival 2003 drew many visitors to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, including Deputy Prime Minister & Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence8, Dr Tony Tan.

One of the most exciting events at the Botanic Gardens was the inaugural Singapore Orchid Festival, held in September 2003. This highly anticipated event saw more than 56,000 visitors thronging the Gardens to view and wonder at some of the best orchids in Asia. Jointly organised with the Orchid Society of Singapore, the event boasted stunning competition landscapes, orchid and other cut flower displays. There was an orchid motif fashion show, as well as commercial and charity booths selling arts and crafts. The competitions held during the festival attracted more than 60 participants from countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and the USA.

8 Then Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence

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Job no: 82262 Title: National Parks Board A/R 02/03 Client: GreenHouse p33 Scn: #175cb Size: 215(w)280(h)mm Co: M6 CO O/P: V2 Dept: DTP D/O: 31.08.04 (Job no: 000000 D/O: 00.00.04 CM11) PLAYING GREEN_FA/M6 9/23/04 6:46 PM Page 5

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2 nparks annual report 2003/2004

In November, some 30,000 people enjoyed the festivities at the Christmas Fiesta in the Gardens, held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Over at Park, the Path Fiesta 2004 event showcased various local arts talents.

Within the heartlands, Bishan Park saw the inaugural Beautiful Green Sunday event held in December 2003. This one-day event started with a mass warm up, followed by a 2.4-km walk-a-jog. The 2,000 participants from the surrounding residential districts then learnt about responsible environmental stewardship and the importance of having a clean and green environment through fun activities from top to bottom Path Fiesta 2004 at the Istana Park provided park visitors with a such as a scarecrow-building contest using cultural experience. recyclable materials, and a children’s The Christmas Fiesta activities held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens art competition. attracted crowds of all ages.

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p34 Job no: 82262 Title: National Parks Board A/R 02/03 Client: GreenHouse Job no Scn: #175cb Size: 215(w)280(h)mm Co: M6 CO O/P: V2 Scn: # Dept: DTP D/O: 31.08.04 (Job no: 000000 D/O: 00.00.04 CM11) Dept: PLAYING GREEN_FA/M6 9/23/04 6:46 PM Page 6

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2 living green | playing green | thinking green

In addition to the regular monthly programmes and the annual major projects such as Singapore Marathon at and The River Hong Bao at Marina Promenade, NParks also initiated several new activities in numerous parks such as Dance @t Parks, PLAYing in the Parks, and Swinging Jazz. Such activities attracted much favourable response. Likewise, the Musicians @ Parks series brought an eclectic sampling of music from rock, rap, and reggae to many of our suburban parks such as , , and East Coast Park, as well as city parks like the Marina Promenade Park and the Istana Park.

Morning exercises at Bishan Park helps bond the community.

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