Memories of Pasir Ris Park

Pasir Ris was originally a low-lying, undeveloped area with kampongs and villages like Kampong Pasir Ris, Kampong Bahru and the various Chinese kampongs along Elias Road. The area was well known for its many plantation estates including the Singapore United Plantations, Loh Lam Estate, Hun Yeang and Thai Min Estates. The beach was a popular resort for water skiing in the 1950s. There was also the Pasir Ris Hotel, venue of many memorable parties and picnic gatherings in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.

Nostalgic memories of Pasir Ris with the single-door bus plying between Tampines and Pasir Ris in the 1950s.  It was then a kampong dotted with vegetable farms and coconut plantations.

An archived photo of a young lady at the beach of Pasir Ris in 1940 shared on this blog with the courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

A tailor shop at Pasir Ris kampong.

The mangrove swamps were found on both sides of the river in Pasir Ris.

The Pasir Ris Park in the past was not developed with playgrounds and other amenities.

Pasir Ris Park stretches from Pasir Ris Road to Jalan Loyang Besar and can be accessed through Elias Road and Pasir Ris Green.

Pasir Ris Park (Chinese: 白沙公园) is a beach park located in the eastern part of Singapore that opened in 1989. It occupies 71 hectares of land, including some reclaimed land. This coastal park is among the largest in Singapore. The full length of the park is around 6.6 kilometres.

Here's a small piece of trivia on Pasir Ris Park.  Did you know that the park's name was derived from the Malay word 'pasir ris' which means 'beach bolt-rope' implying a narrow beach.  Pasir Ris is commonly known as 'white sand'.

Workers' Brigade Camp at Pasir Ris

The Workers' Brigade was formed in 1959 and disbanded in 1984.  The Workers' Brigade was described as Singapore's "army without guns" galvanising the spirit of the Singapore youth and provide employment with food and lodging for men and women.  The duties of the women include washing, cooking and other household chores.  The men work on development schemes such as construction of bridges and improving the surfaces of rural roads in the kampong.

The Workers' Brigade was officially opened on 14 May, 1960.  Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew officiated at its passing-out parade on 15 May, 1960 and the selected archived photos are curated with the courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore.

PM Lee Kuan Yew touring facilities at the Pasir Ris Workers' Brigade on 15 May, 1960.

Lunch Time at the Passing Out Parade

People's Association Holiday Facilities at Pasir Ris

This photo taken at Pasir Ris in 1986.

Please note the unique design of  the wooden benches at Pasir Ris Park.

A group of picnickers at Pasir Ris Park in 1948

Card games in the holiday bungalow in 1957

The low-lying beaches at Pasir Ris Park after a heavy rain.

Pasir Ris Park in 1987

Housing & Development Board (HDB) Holiday Bungalow at Pasir Ris

The 2-storey bungalow at 110, Pasir Ris Rd is leased by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) for the use of its staff.  My last visit there about 40 years ago when my former colleague held a BBQ during the weekend in the 1970s.

Pasir Ris Holiday Complex in 2017

I had the opportunity to spend a weekend at the Pasir Ris Holiday Complex on 4 March, 2017 and 5 March, 2017 as a member of the Changi Simei Senior Citizens Executive Committee.  The 'SCEC Retreat' this year was held at the People's Association Holiday Facilities in Pasir Ris.

The juxtaposed photo of the holiday flats rented for the 'SCEC Retreat 2017' on 4 March, 2017 (above) and the archived NAS  photo (below) of the same building which the former Minister for Enviroment Lim Kim San opened on 11 November, 1973.

Walkabout at Pasir Ris Park to capture the memorable moments with my camera to share.

       

I woke up at 0600 hr on 5 March, 2017 to wait for the sunrise in the sky above Changi Village in the distance, peeping up through the clouds but it lasted only 5 minutes and the whole place brightened up.

Want to learn "Cha Cha Cha' at the Pasir Ris Park?

A friend I met at the Pasir Ris Park - a colorful kampong fowl roaming in the wild with freedom 😉

Find out more from the National Parks  here . Enjoy a visit to the Pasir Ris Park with the family and friends during the school holidays.  Have fun to learn, share and enjoy our national parks in Singapore!