Many of our favourite playgrounds are long gone, having been demolished to make way for newer developments. They are often replaced with shiny, sterile, and newer play structures – but we all know that’s not the same.
The earlier playgrounds of Singapore were made distinct by their ceramic tiles and themed play areas, a stark contrast to the modern designs of today. Now, what if you could revisit your favourite childhood playgrounds? From the iconic dragon playgrounds to newer playgrounds meant to replicate that old-school charm, we’ve found the last remaining old-school playgrounds in Singapore that are sure to bring that fuzzy, nostalgic rush from your childhood back in a snap.
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If there’s a playground in Singapore that everyone knows of, it’ll be the iconic Dragon Playground in Toa Payoh. Built in 1979, the terrazzo-clad head-ringed body of the dragon draws inspiration from the Oriental dragon in Singapore’s Chinese culture, with the winding body leading you to a mini slide at the head of the dragon.
In case you didn’t know, there’s more than just 1 dragon playground in Singapore. In fact, there used to be 8 dragon playgrounds scattered across the heartlands of Singapore, with the dragon playground in Toa Payoh being one of only 4 left.
This one in Toa Payoh Lorong 8 is special, though. Besides being featured in the Toa Payoh Heritage Trail, it is the only remaining dragon playground that has a sand pit. This means that not only can you reminisce about a time spent building sand castles under the belly of the dragon, but your little ones can.
If you love the Toa Payoh Dragon playground, you’ve got to meet its twin, living right in the heart of Ang Mo Kio. Here, you can reminisce in peace, without having to battle the occasional crowd snapping photos and posing around the Toa Payoh Dragon.
Although less well-known as compared to its legendary brother, the Ang Mo Kio Dragon is no less aesthetic. The tiles on this dragon are surprisingly shiny, with its metal-ribbed body showing fewer signs of wear and tear, in contrast to its faded sibling.
This dragon also sits a lot closer to the ground than the one in Toa Payoh, with rubber flooring to boot – you can rest assured that even toddlers still unstable on their feet can have fun while being safe.
Here’s another themed one from HDB’s 1980s spree of thematic playgrounds – the Clock Playground in Bishan.
It may look like there isn’t much to this playground, with there being only a ladder up to the structure and a small slide, but sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring the most fun. With its colourful mosaic tiles and playful appearance, the playground is almost like a page out of a nursery rhyme.
Now a preservation project by HDB, the playground has retained much of its original structure – including the sand pit – with additional safety measures in place, such as netting around the ladder.
Situated right next to a hawker centre, and just a 3-minute walk from Junction 8, it’s easy to grab a snack or a refreshing drink after exploring this playground.
Inspired by the bumboats, or sampans, which used to carry cargo from larger ships to shore back in the late 1800s to 1980s, the Bumboat Playground, or the Sampan Playground, is docked in Pasir Ris.
The back half of the sampan is actually a mini slide, with the front being steps that lead up to the front of the boat, where young ones can pretend that they are little captains, steering their sampan down the Singapore River.
Fun fact – the 2 eyes on the sampan’s head actually originate from the belief that these eyes would help the boat avoid danger as it navigates the waters.
The sampan playground has seen new additions since its construction in the 1980s. It now features a small play structure, a seesaw, and even swings. ICYMI, the seesaw is inspired by the eyes of the sampan, with the colour scheme of the sampan replicated in the other play structure.
This playground is also conveniently located next to a hawker centre, so when you or your kids are in need of a break or a refresher, it’s easy to pop by for a quick drink.
If you’ve been wondering why Toa Payoh is home to so many themed playgrounds, it’s because Toa Payoh in the 1970s was a budding neighbourhood of young families. Themed playgrounds were introduced to not only provide kids with a fun space to play in, but also to cultivate a sense of community within the neighbourhood. Fun fact aside, here’s another themed playground in Toa Payoh to add to your list – the Dinosaur Playground.
The mother and child T-Rex duo might be far from life-sized, but for kids, the 3m-tall dino is more than enough to kickstart a prehistoric adventure.
While the dinosaur structures themselves are more sculpture than playground, it doesn’t mean you can’t let your imagination run wild.
From playing with the baby T-Rex to escaping its bigger counterpart, the possibilities are endless. And on the off chance that you or your kid gets bored of the prehistoric animals, there’s also a playground set, complete with dual slides, right behind to explore.
At first glance, the Wallholla Playground at Block 160 may look small, but don’t let its size fool you. Not only does this vertical maze have 3 levels of slopes and ropes for you to play on, there are also rock-climbing stones and climbing rings all around its exterior.
The compact playground doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb against the rustic HDBs and greenery thanks to its organic design, which makes it appear almost as if it were suspended in the air.
What’s amazing about this vertical playground is how it manages to utilise the compact area so well- integrating elements both inside and around it to maximise playspace. First built in 2005, the vertical playground is meant to accommodate more children without having to take up too much physical space. Talk about paying homage to the philosophy behind our cityscape construction!
The vertical playground isn’t the only interesting structure here – right behind it is a tall rope and slide structure. It can get a little tricky trying to enter the structure itself, but trust me, the hurdle is all part of the adventure.
The metallic slide is definitely a throwback to the large-scale playgrounds like the one at Admiralty Park. Well, those living in central Singapore don’t have to traipse to the North for one of these hard-to-find slides. Be careful though, the slide may get a little too hot when the Singapore sun is at its hottest and slippery after the rain.
You might be tired of hearing about the dragon playgrounds in Singapore, but this baby version in MacPherson is sure to steal your heart. Compared to its siblings, the Pipit Road Baby Dragon Playground is the smallest one yet, featuring only a set of spiral steps that lead you to the crown of the dragon’s head, and a winding slide to take you back down.
Image credit: MEGUMI NAKAZAWA via Google Maps
With its pale blue and peach colouring, this dragon is slightly less striking compared to the other vibrant mosaic dragons, but he’s still cute nonetheless.
Image credit: National Parks Board (NParks)
Here’s a topsy-turvy playground that’s sure to take your mind for a spin – the Train Playground at Tiong Bahru Park. With the way the train carriages are tilted, it’ll be an adventure in itself trying to weave in and out of the floating train carriages. The off-kilter cabins can be tricky to make your way through, but come complete with handrails and ropes. To complete the railway experience, there is even a bell at the front of the train for you to ring.
The train isn’t the only exciting thing at this playground. Apart from the playground having a massive sand pit complete with horse-shaped rocking seesaws to live out your Texan cowboy dreams, it’s also home to a swing set and toddler play area. Be it making sand art with fallen tree branches in the sand, or leaping and running about the expansive space, there’s definitely no shortage of fun at this playground.
Image credit: S L via Google Maps
The MacPherson Weave Playground may be new, but it’s loaded with nostalgic elements. From the twin dragon structure that greets you to the colourful tiles that make up the playground, everything about this screams old-school playground.
This playground requires a little bit of a walk though, as each element is situated between different blocks that are meant to encourage you to explore the neighbourhood a little more. You can find the twin dragon structures between Blocks 99A and 97A, complete with a ceramic-tiled maze that, on deeper scrutiny, resembles the HDB blocks themselves. Aside from being a great location for a game of tag or hide-and-seek, the colourful structures also make for the perfect photoshoot location to unleash your inner whimsy.
Venture further down to the area between Blocks 99B and 95C, and you’ll find a watermelon-inspired playground. Scale a cargo net to reach the top of the fruit, wriggle your way through a rope tunnel that connects the 2 watermelon structures, slide back to the ground, and repeat. To complete the fruit-inspired structure, there is even a watermelon merry-go-round to spin on.
Image credit: S L via Google Maps
Over at Blocks 95 and 100, you’ll find a jackfruit-inspired playground. Like the massive fruit, this playground is huge. With 2 open-air domes connected by a cargo net, complete with the distinctive geometric shape of the fruit’s exterior, this playground lets you literally step into a jackfruit.
What’s more, there are 3 leaf-inspired canopies that help to shield you from the afternoon sun, so your little ones can play here, rain or shine.
Image credit: S L via Google Maps
Head down to Block 97B and you’ll find what is perhaps the most interesting structure yet. Inspired by the buah long long fruit, this playground consists of 3 fruit-shaped pods connected by their stems.
The buah long long fruit may be small, but the pods at this playground are big. 2 of them consist of elevated decks that are connected by a netted tunnel you can crawl through, and the smallest pod even fits a mini hammock.
Its location at the back of the estate also makes this the most shaded of these MacPherson playgrounds.
Here’s another fruity playground to round off our list of heritage playgrounds – the Watermelon and Mangosteen Playground in Tampines.
Inspired by the fruit farms that used to be found in Tampines, this mosaic playground is a rare gem that’s survived since the 1980s. Although the swings have since been replaced by wooden benches, the retro charm of the playground remains. The watermelon structure comes with a set of stairs that you can climb, with the sloped platform providing an extra bit of adventure.
Image credit: MEGUMI NAKAZAWA via Google Maps
Over at the mangosteen structures, things are a lot simpler but still full of charm. With their rounded structures and little peek-a-boo windows, the mangosteens make for a good spot to play a game of tag.
When we visited, both the watermelon and mangosteen playgrounds were under renovation, with no date of completion stated. You can still get glimpses of them through the fences, though for actual fun, you can head over to 2 other playgrounds that are right across the pavement. With both playgrounds featuring a minimum of 2 swings each and loads of interactive elements, there’s no shortage of fun even with their fruit siblings being closed.
For those looking to relive childhood afternoons spent sweating it out at a playground, this list of old-school playgrounds is your ticket to turning back time. And for those with mini-mes running around, this list is all the more reason to embark on a kid-friendly adventure that comes with zero fees, and maximum fun.
For more things to do in SG:
Cover image adapted from MEGUMI NAKAZAWA via Google Maps, The Smart Local
Photography by Wani Khan.
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