Bishan Park - Kallang Park Connector

Bishan Park
It is located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 between Upper Thomson Road and Bishan Road. It occupies 62 hectares with a 3km stream running through it. From a park with a straight dull forbidding concrete canal it has been changed into one with a winding stream and several lakes with increased greenery and environmentally pleasing features. The slow flowing stream is so inviting that one wants to get close to it and splash with the water. It also serves as a buffer in case of excessive rain when its capacity can be increased by 40% as the park will serve as a channel to hold the increased run-off. Visitors are allowed to get closer to the water edge to enjoy nature. Sirens, warning lights, depth markers, speakers were installed to warn park users in case of an increase of water level.

Birdwatchers at work

With the increased vegetation, the biodiversity has increased. More species of wildlife are seen. The little egret can now walk in the shallow stream to look for food. Concrete lining from the old canal were used to form the Lookout Hill. Plants were grown to help prevent soil erosion. Lakes were remodeled to enhance the landscape. New amenities were built. There is a McDonald outlet near the eastern part of the park. We had to seek refuge from the afternoon rain here and enjoy the 70 cents soft ice, while waiting for another fellow walker to join us.

Bidadari Park

There are several aesthetically designed bridges crossing the stream. These provide pleasing backdrop to the park as well.

Bishan Park

Kallang Park Connector
The Kallang Park Connector starts from Kallang Riverine Park at the Kallang Basin then runs through Kallang Bahru, Potong Pasir, Bishan and finally through Bishan Park and its source of water the Lower Peirce Reservoir. As we have visited this connector several times both before and during the reconstruction of the park we decided its time to travel along it again.

Bridge Bishan Park

Our walk started in Aljunied Road where we also took a look at Bidadari Park which was a cemetery now turned into a park. A group of birdwatchers were patiently filming the birds so we did not join them so as not to disturb the birds.

We then moved on to Braddell Road and explored Woodleigh Park. The PUB has a recreation club and waterworks in the area. We were surprised to find the black and white houses here. These were built by the British to house their colonial staff. We explored an abandoned track behind the houses of Carmichael Road. It led to a locked gate of the waterworks. We were hoping to find a shortcut to the canal. So we retraced our route to Braddell Road to get on to the Kallang Park Connector just after the Central Expressway..

Lookout Hill

The Park Connector led us past the SMRT train depot before we arrived at Bishan Park. Most of the construction barricades have been taken down in readiness for the official opening in the coming weeks. After visiting the park we moved on to the Lower Peirce Reservoir. By going past the fishing area northward we reached the entrance to the forest trail. This trail ends at Old Thomson Road near Casuarina Walk where one can enjoy his prata.

Stream through Bishan Park

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Kallang Park Connector

Fishing at Lower Peirce Reservoir Park

Bishan Park
For this walk, we chose to start from the direction of Bishan Park and end at Kallang. Before starting on the park connector, we paid a visit to the Lower Peirce Reservoir Park which was nearby. In this park there is a small area set aside for fishing. The Lower Peirce Reservoir is the start of the Kallang River. The river used to be a concrete lined canal all the way to the Kallang Basin. However the canal in Bishan Park is being converted into a riverine type environment with plants growing along the banks giving the river a softer more natural look. Part of this was completed as seen in the accompanying photos. McDonald's has an outlet in the park near one of the futuristic looking bridge with its gentle curves. The outlet is clean, modern and fairly large but surprisingly with a small toilet facility. This will cause congestion during weekends with many families from Bishan and Ang Mo Kio visiting with their families and baby strollers. Bishan Park stretches almost 3km from west to east with landscaped lakes, river banks and a driving range nearby. It is bordered to the north by Ang Mo Kio and on the south by Bishan.

Bishan Park

Kallang Park Connector
The Kallang Park Connector runs along the Kallang River connecting Bishan Park to the Kallang Park. The distance is about 10km from Upper Thomson Road to Kallang Station. The walk is easy and basically on level ground. It is well marked and maps strategically placed. Easy to find your way along the route but tricky near Kallang as there are several canals joining up. The river within Bishan Park is well landscaped and attractive. One can spend some time here admiring the scenery and the bridges once the park is fully redeveloped and open.

St Andrew's Bridge

Across from the eastern edge of Bishan Park is the Bishan depot of the SMRT where recently there was a break-in and a train got a free paint job on its side panels. The traditional top-down approach was evident. As we walked along the park connector we could see some photographers checking out the fences. We did not know that they were reporters from the local media until the next day when an article analyzed how the break-in was supposed to have occurred.

We crossed Braddel Road using the overhead bridge. At the Central Expressway, the Kallang Park Connector went under it. It is well lit and lined with shrubs and flowering plants along the way. It allows both cyclists and hikers to use it.

Kolam Ayer Waterfront

After Potong Pasir Avenue, we walked under a sheltered bridge that spanned the Kallang River connecting St. Andrew's Jr College to St. Andrew's Junior School. This is the only school with its own private bridge across a river.

We crossed the PIE via an overhead bridge to Moonstone Lane. At the Kolam Ayer Waterfront, there is a floating platform along which visitors can walk for a better sense of the Kallang River. There are also devices to illustrate different types of water pumping equipment used in the past such as the Archimedes screw. The newly completed 'The River Vista@Kallang' is situated right in the middle of this richly landscaped area. The bridges across the river here were designed to complement the environment with their aesthetic and modern curves.

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