15 Sep 2024 - Bidadari Park

Bidadari Park is a 13ha-park within Bidadari Estate and was recently opened to public on 3 Sep.  This new park takes up more than 10 percent of Bidadari's land area and spans more than 18 football fields, with a 5.2km network of trails.

The new park was inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood from children's classic Winnie the Pooh and builds on the area's original wooded and rustic nature, featuring a recreational lake, trails and treehouse playground.  A stone's throw from the park's sole car park stands a 5m-tall tree house playground termed the Adventure Playwoods.

There is an extension of the park, known as the Hillock, situated in between two housing areas. The Hillock will be connected to the main park area via a land bridge across Bidadari Park Drive.  The bridge, about 100m in length and 19m wide, is flanked by verdant flora on both sides, with a collection of flowering shrubs and trees planted to create a conducive environment for butterflies and birds. 

As the Hillock is located on higher topography within the park with more vegetation, it also serves as a bird sighting "hotspot".  Primarily comprising of existing mature trees such as Tembusu and Ficus, this area will serve as a complementary habitat to the core of Bidadari Park.

There are two marshlands in the park which portray how nature is used to manage floods.  The upper marshland only forms temporarily after heavy rain and provides essential habitats to amphibians, insects and water dependent birds.  The lower marshland is permanent and is a habitat for aquatic species all year round.  During the rainy season, rainwater that collects at the upper marshland flows through the lower marshland and eventually into the Ficus Stream.

Those visiting the lower marshland can amble through the boardwalk, an elevated platform above the water, and rest at the observation deck and pavilion that is designed to resemble a bird nest.

One of the key highlights of the park is a scenic lake called Alkaff Lake.  It occupies a 1.8ha space within the park and is a recreational zone which also protects the estate from floods. The lake can hold up to 40,000 cubic metres of water, the equivalent of 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools.  By capturing the rainwater, the lake slows down the amount flowing into downstream drainage systems and mitigates the risk of flooding in the estate.

In the middle of the lake is a small island where a majestic Rain Tree stands.

A cascading creek leading to Alkaff Lake directs excess rainwater from the surrounding areas into the lake.

We decided to walk round the beautiful lake to view it from different angles.  At one point, we saw a kingfisher standing on a pole.

The park is connected to the nearby Woodleigh Mall.  There is a viewing deck at the extension of the mall.  From high above the ground, the view of the entire lake is superb!