New Orchard Road park to treble Istana Park’s size, serve as commercial and leisure space

A NEW park, which will be triple the size of the existing 1.3 hectares Istana Park, is set to be developed under updated plans by the National Parks Board (NParks) to rejuvenate areas along Orchard Road.

Unveiled by Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan on Wednesday (Aug 12) at Temasek Shophouse, the redeveloped green area merges Istana Park with urban park Dhoby Ghaut Green and Penang Road Open Space. 

A 500-metre section of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road will also be pedestrianised to form the expanded park.

The redeveloped space will be organised into three sections: Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza, Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut Green.

Dhoby Ghaut Green will serve as a multifunctional green space that integrates the existing retail belt, which includes Plaza Singapura, into the greenery of the new park, as well as host recreational activities.

“(Dhoby Ghaut Green) will be a multifunctional area to bring greenery to the doorstep of retail, commercial, and community buildings here around our vicinity. We will design this activity promenade for public performances, street markets and festivals, and also community uses,” said Tan. 

A garden dedicated to honouring Singapore women will be situated within Dhoby Ghaut Green as well, following one of the recommendations in the 2022 White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development. It will provide flexible spaces for women’s groups to organise commemorative events and activities. 

Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza aims to showcase native orchid species across a range of habitats, and nature oriented features like aquatic and terrestrial gardens.

Istana Park may be redeveloped as a formal foregarden to Istana grounds, where new attractions such as galleries exhibiting multicultural heritage and native flora will be added. 

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Given the size of the project, NParks group director of Fort Canning and Istana Ng Boon Gee said that the park’s development timeline can only be confirmed after planning and funding details are firmed up and consultations with stakeholders are completed.

The revamp of the parks is part of the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan which was launched jointly by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore Tourism Board and NParks in 2019. 

Additional infrastructures such as an elevated link bridge connecting Dhoby Ghaut Green to Fort Canning Park, as well as pocket parks at Somerset area and Handy Road are being explored for development.

The public can submit feedback and view the park’s redevelopment plans at an exhibition held at Temasek Shophouse till Aug 26.

“What will truly bring (the new park) to life (are) businesses owners, developers, community, residents… (who) want to see Orchard Road rejuvenated,” said Tan.