Singapore Expats

Does anybody know of any nice outdoor playgrounds around Orchard area, but if not I'm willing to travel
Back home in US even in a small town there would be 2 or 3 public, free outdoor playgrounds with swings and slides and see-saws, etc.. I'm not able to find something similar in Singapore. We walked about 2 miles along the beach today in East Coast Park without finding anything (other than the one at McDonalds, but thats not quite what I'm looking for ).
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

not outdoor but indoor - there's one inside paragon outside toys r us.

I spent the morning at west coast park today and there are more playframes than you could dream of, all different styles, ages etc. We also live Orchard area, and don't have a car, so I booked a maxi cab ($16) and took the boy's bikes along. If you ask the taxi driver to drop you at McDonald's you'll be close to the play areas, sand and grass. If you walk for 5 minutes away from the crowds you can even feel that you have the park to yourself - lovely!!

Best one is at West Coast Park, loads of climbing frames etc, but not much shade so best to go in cooler part of the day. Pasir Ris Park also has an adventure playground but we haven't been there for a while so maybe someone else can confirm it's still there. The Botanic Gardens has a new outdoor park, the Jacob Ballas garden, at the Bukit Timah Road end of the Gardens. Enter from the management university driveway off Bukit Timah Road to avoid a long walk. They've been promising new play facilities for ECP for years but nothing's happened yet. Most other outdoor playgrounds are smallish - a climbing frame, couple of swings, small slide. They are all over the place in small parks and often in HDB areas. If you have a Mighty Minds street directory, they are marked on there.

We really like the Jacob Ballas Children's Park. It's easy to get to and fun. So far, the best thing around this area.. meaning it doesn't cost more than $10 to get to.

If you don't have your own directory the playgrounds are marked on the online street directory as well.

Perhaps if you look up Streetdirectory and look up your street and surrounding areas you might find out if there are any playgrounds near you, they are likely to be small local ones, but you never know.

Skye has mentioned most of the big ones already, all of which are well worth visiting. (yes Pasir Ris still has its big playground with all the fun stuff in it). There are also pony rides there too, and bike hire, and it is a lot quieter than East Coast Park.

A short taxi drive away and worth a visit is a park on the corner of Tiong Bahru Road and Lower Delta Road, its a climbing aparatus so suitable for older toddlers/kids in the form of a train, less than 5 mins from Tiong Bahru MRT.

Thank you everybody for your replies!
I work during the week, but looks like I have plans for all my weekends now for the next several months
Thanks again!

get an annual family membership to the zoo. it has a great play area/lake. though we've so far not made it past the lions......

Can a playground be any better than the one in Pasir Ris park? I think it was just GREAT. We had to drag the kids away from there last weekend. The only thing missing close to the playground was a place to get some snacks so bring that along.

Now my expectations on West Coast Park is immense!


/S

the pasir ris one is great as well. They also have this Pony ride for kids. There is a new outdoor playground in IMM, 3rd floor. Just like the one in Vivocity.

Best playground ranking:

1. Pasir Ris imense!! All ages equipment and all sorts of things lots of trees. Food not available close by. Bring it along.
2. West Coast park huge with frames and balance lanes to the balance skills. A Macdonalds in conjunction.

Those two are just outstanding.

For us in the wild wild west i can recommend the Bukit Batok park as a nice little walk with a playground that is ok.

Indoor: We like the GO GO bambini best and the neighbourhood is really nice. Nextdoor you have a gourme store originating from bath that has an exellent sorting of cheeses that you cheese lovers can not miss.

Don´t miss the science center! There is so much fun and my boy turning 3 years old really had a great time at the waterplay ground! (Bring a towel and extra clothes) Entrance is dirt cheap.....

Waterpak: Wild Wild Wet was really something that my kids enjoyed every second. A must try.

A cheaper option is the Jurong east public arena by the football pitch. Walking distance from the Jurong east MRT.