The new playground at Admiralty Park boasts an overwhelming 26 slides.
The new playground at Admiralty Park boasts an overwhelming 26 slides. FELICIA WONG shows you how to make the most of your trip there.
After two years of redevelopment, Admiralty Park opened again in October last year, featuring a whopping 27ha of nature and urban areas – that’s about a third of the size of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
In addition to being the largest park in the north of Singapore, Admiralty Park’s playground also boasts 26 slides, the most number of slides in any park in Singapore.
This playground definitely compares to the likes of the well-loved Pasir Ris Park and East Coast Park playgrounds. Here’s what you need to know before you head down with your tykes.
FAMILY TERRACING PLAY
Best for: 5 to 12 year olds This is the largest out of all three play areas. Let your children explore the different levels of terrain as they play with the engaging equipment, such as the suspension bridges and climbing ropes.
Adventurous kids will love the double barrel slides (picture 2). Standing at 9m tall and approximately 23m long, this is the longest and tallest tube slide in a public park. They can climb all the way up to the top using the connecting net climber between the two slides.
Because they are steeply angled, NParks has advised parents and grown-ups not to use it after incidents of injuries were reported when the playground opened late last year. So don’t try to follow your kids down them.
If you’re looking for something milder, check out the waterfall climber (picture 1). This cool wavy slide is surrounded by a series of cargo nets and follows the contours of the existing terrain.
Don’t miss out on the flying fox (picture 3), either. Located next to the slides, this is the first outdoor looped flying fox.
During our visit, Young Parents noticed that riders tend to swing up very high when they come back towards the starting point. Make sure you supervise your little ones as they glide around the looped circuit.
JUNIOR PLAY
Best for: 2 to 5 year olds Located farther away from the other two play areas, it has gentle slopes and slides for little ones.
A must-try is the expression swing (picture 5), which allows you to face your child. It’s the first of its kind in Singapore.
Perfect for those with younger kids, the family slide (picture 4) allows you to slide down together with your little ones safely. The slide is designed with a gentle gradient.
No child is left out during playtime, thanks to the wheelchair swing (picture 6) and inclusive merry-go-round. These inclusive elements allow kids of all abilities to play together.
ADVENTURE PLAY
Best for: All ages
The blue-hued high adventure roller slide (pictured, right) is approximately 32m long and has LED lights along its sides that light up when you slide down.
Meanwhile, standing at approximately 34m long with gentle curves, the green roller slide (pictured, left) is the longest outdoor slide in a public park.
7 things you must know
How do I get there? The park is a 15-minute walk from Woodlands MRT Station. You can also board bus 903 from Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange and get off after two stops, at the Progen Building bus stop.
What if I’m driving? If you’re driving your kids to the playground, park at the West Entrance carpark. Parking at the West Entrance carpark is free from 6.30am to 8.30am and $0.60 per 30 minutes, daily. Make sure you’re at the correct carpark because the North Entrance carpark is located at the other end of Admiralty Park.
Where are the toilets? There are two toilets near the playground at Admiralty Park. The first is located next to Sakura International Buffet Restaurant, beside the West Entrance carpark. The second is located near the Junior Play area. Both toilets have one kid-friendly cubicle each.
Are there shelters? There are four shelters, one at each play area and an additional one in between the Adventure Play area and Junior Play area. The shelters are not very big – so do check the weather forecast before you bring your little ones out to play.
Where can we eat? The nearest eatery is Sakura International Buffet Restaurant at Admiralty Park. It is located right next to the West Entrance carpark. The restaurant is halal-certified and offers a variety of Japanese and Western cuisine. Visit http://www.sakuraintbuffet.com.sg.
If buffet’s not your style, head over to Republic Polytechnic, which is open to the public and located right next to the playground, or make the journey to Causeway Point.
How’s the crowd? Located right next to Republic Polytechnic, the playground is teemed with teenagers on weekdays – especially in the afternoons.
The Junior Play area is separated from the other two zones for older kids, so your tots can still safely play all day. However, if your little ones want the full playground experience, it’s best to make a visit to Admiralty Park in the evenings instead, or wait for the weekends.
Is it lit at night? Admiralty Park’s lighting hours are from 7pm to 7am daily. There are no lights in the forested area after dark. Visit http://www.tinyurl.com/admiraltypark.
PHOTOS VERNON WONG
