February 25, 2016

Sungei Serangoon Park Connector

Otters enjoying a meal at Serangoon River

Punggol-Sengkang

This is a lucky area bound by the Punggol River on the west, the Serangoon River on the east and the Johor Straits to the north. This results in about 25km of waterways along which walking and cycling tracks were built. Coney Island was just opened in October 2015 adding 2.4km on the main trail.

In addition to three MRT stations at Punggol, Sengkang and Buangkok on the North-East Line, the area has two LRT lines one serving Punggol and the other Sengkang.


Serangoon River

Serangoon Park Connector

We started with a meetup at the Hougang St 21 Food Centre for an early lunch. This place has two popular fish ball noodles stalls both equally crowded with a queue even at 11am. The chicken rice, bak chor mee, laksa, wanton mee, hainanese curry rice, rojak are also popular. It is situated beside the Heartland Mall at the Kovan MRT Station.

After lunch we walked along Tampines Road until we reached the Serangoon River next to Hougang Ave 7. It forms part of the reservoir created by the East and West Dams at both ends of Coney Island.


F&B outlets at Tebing Lane

We walked along the river bank on the Sungei Serangoon Park Connector. Initially the banks were protected with concrete but further along the trail just before Buangkok Drive, the banks were covered with vegetation giving a more rustic look. Across the river was the former Lorong Halus Dumping Ground for our refuse. It used to propagate a stink as we drive past the area along Tampines Road. The land was left to regenerate for decades and now will be developed for high-tech industries. The banks across the river was forested. We had walked the trail on the opposite bank years ago. Last time we walked the trail it was muddy and we were concerned that the water was contaminated with leachate from the landfill. We need to choose a day when the trail is dry before going that way again.

At Buangkok Drive which runs parallel to Sungei Pinang, the park connector turns to the left and 400m away is Punggol Park.

Sungei Serangoon Park Connector

Instead of continuing along the Serangoon Park Connector, we crossed under the Buangkok East Drive on to another park connector called Sungei Serangoon Park Connector. This is a pleasant track with Sengkang flats on the left and the Serangoon River on the right. The park connector continued below the Tampines Expressway into Punggol. Here the park connector is named Punggol Promenade all the way to Punggol Point. 

Just before the Pedestrian Bridge at Lorong Halus at Tebing Lane we passed F&B outlets consisting of restaurants and fast-food. Uncle Leong Seafood is located here. Just before the pedestrian bridge to the Lorong Halus Wetland Reserve we spotted a family of otters frolicking in the reservoir. One of them was munching on a sizeable fish. We rested at the Lorong Halus Wetland Reserve where there are toilet facilities and a water cooler for us to replenish our water supply.

Punggol Waterway

Punggol Waterway

After the Pedestrian Bridge, we reached the Punggol Waterway. Here we turned west and walked along the waterway. Both sides are being developed with thousands of flats being built so the skyline has changed drastically since the waterway was opened just a few years back. Several specially designed pedestrian bridges cross the waterway providing excitement and photo opportunities. We passed the Sunset Bridge at the entrance to the waterway. Just before Punggol Road is the Wave Bridge. After walking below the Punggol Road, we came to the Kelong Bridge near where we exit the waterway and walked along Punggol Road. We ended our walk at Punggol MRT Station.


Related Posts
Punggol Park Connector - from Buangkok to Punggol
Punggol Point
Punggol Waterway Punggol Promenade 


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