A 400m section of the Punggol Heritage Trail was opened on Aug 23, turning what was once a single carriageway road for vehicles into a path for people to walk amid lush greenery.
The trail retains the original distinctive undulating terrain of the former Punggol Road, now known as Old Punggol Road, as well as the existing greenery, most of which consists of coastal forest species.
A nostalgic orange-and-white bus stop of yesteryear stands exactly where an actual bus stop was located, but it now serves as a shelter for trail visitors.
Kampong Wak Sumang, one of Singapore’s earliest fishing villages, was around the area.
“So, keeping this as a heritage (area) has a lot of meaning in bringing back those old memories, those nostalgic feels about this place,” said Ms Ang Chiean Hong, coordinating director of parks development at the National Parks Board (NParks).
The entire 1.3km trail is set to be completed by the end of 2026 and will connect Punggol Waterway Park to Punggol Point Park.
On Aug 23, the advisers for Punggol GRC joined residents for a tree-planting session along the trail. They are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong; Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary; Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling; and Ms Yeo Wan Ling.
Ms Sun said the Punggol Heritage Trail not only preserves the rustic charm and memories of Old Punggol Road but also serves as a green lung that runs through the Punggol Digital District, connecting offices, the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) campus and homes.
Plans for the heritage trail were announced in 2018 alongside the rest of the Punggol Digital District, Singapore’s first smart district.
The former Punggol Road, along which the trail runs, was closed to traffic in August 2018.
NParks said that two areas located on the opened section of the trail will be completed by the end of 2025. Adventure Playground has design elements inspired by the game of pick-up sticks, and Backwoods Trail will have numbered sections along its footpath resembling the snakes and ladders game.
Ms Ang said people would remember the Old Punggol Road for its distinctive features, including the undulating terrain that is flanked by tall trees.
“Then along the way, we also added some of the more native species to enhance the forest setting,” she added. These include species of endangered plants.
A member of the public for whom the trail draws memories is Mr Syazrin Khairi.
The 35-year-old technician explored the new heritage trail after seeing that it was open while he was on the way to have dinner in the area with his family.
He remembers riding a motorbike with family and friends down the old Punggol Road as a teenager to go to the Punggol Settlement area just to chill.
While he noted that much has changed since then, Mr Syazrin said it is good that the old road has been retained.
“It is really a heritage trail that allows you to recall old memories,” he said.
The Straits Times
