| Kent Ridge Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Singapore |
| Area | 91.6 hectares (226 acres) |
| Created | 1954; 71 years ago (1954) |
| Status | Open all year |
Kent Ridge Park is a 47-hectare public park located inKent Ridge,Singapore, between theNational University of Singapore and theSingapore Science Park. Due to its undisturbedhabitat and abundant plant life, it is a popular venue forbird-watchers andeco-tourists.
During theSecond World War, a hill in the park was the site of one of the last and fiercest battles fought by theMalay Regiment against the invadingJapanese army, theBattle of Bukit Chandu (also known as theBattle of Pasir Panjang), 12–14 February 1942.[1]
The park was officially opened in 1954, and was gazetted by theNational Heritage Board as one of 11 World War II sites in Singapore in 1995.[2] It is one of over 300 parks managed by Singapore's National Parks Board, NParks.[3]
The area occupied by Kent Ridge Park and theNational University of Singapore was formerly known as Pasir Panjang Ridge, and was originally a lowland evergreenrainforest. The park's natural vegetation now consists of groves ofTembusu,Acacias andDillenias.[4] When the first settlers arrived in Singapore in the early 19th century, they grew crops such as rubber, pepper,gambier and pineapple on the ridge.[5] DuringWorld War II, it was used as a fortress by theBritish in the defence of Singapore. Many of these plantations were either abandoned or destroyed during theJapanese Occupation (1942–1945), which allowed such crops to grow wild.
On 23 February 1954, the Governor of Singapore,Sir John Fearns Nicoll unveiled a plaque which declared the area had been renamed Kent Ridge to commemorate the visit by theDuchess of Kent and her son, theDuke of Kent, on 3 October 1952. The plaque was erected at the junction of what is now Kent Ridge Road and South Buona Vista Road.[6]
The park containsBukit Chandu, alternatively known asOpium Hill (inMalay), after the opium processing factory owned by the BritishEast India Company that was at the foot of the hill until 1910.[7] During 12–14 February 1942, it was the site of theBattle of Bukit Chandu, fought by the 42 survivors of theMalay Regiment led by LieutenantAdnan Bin Saidi against the 13,000 men ofLieutenant-GeneralMutaguchi Renya's 18th Division.[1] The Malay Regiment's position on the hill was overrun by the Japanese and the battle ended in hand-to-hand combat after the last few defenders ran out of ammunition. All the officers except one, Lieutenant Abbas Abdul-Manan, and most of the men, were massacred in the aftermath.[1]
Formerly used to house seniorBritish Army officers, the last remaining black and white colonial bungalow at 31K Bukit Chandu has been restored and converted into aWorld War II war museum called Reflections at Bukit Chandu, commemorating the war and those who fought in it. Originally there were two smaller bungalows below 31K, but they were demolished in 1987 to make way for a public parking lot. There are three life-size statues and a plaque outside the museum, honoring the Malay Regiment and commemorating the lives of those who died.[8]
Kent Ridge Park,Labrador Park, and the war museum, are part of the Pasir Panjang Historic District, which focuses on World War IIbattlefield events in western Singapore.[7] Together withFort Siloso atSentosa andThe Battle Box atFort Canning, they serve as a reminder of an important chapter in Singapore's modern history. Near to the top of the ridge, there is a commemorative heritage site marker which shows the area where theBattle of Pasir Panjang of 1942 was fought.[2]
The park also has some decommissionedSingapore Army military equipment, consisting of two WWII-vintage US M114 155mm field howitzers and a French AMX-13 light tank on permanent outdoor display until December 2015, donated by theMinistry of Defence as part of its adoption of Kent Ridge Park asThe Army Green Park in support of theNational Parks Board "Adopt-a-Park" scheme to inculcate a greater ownership among the public of local parks and greenery. The park's facilities include fitness corners, look-out points, a nature trail, a multi-purpose court and a canopy walk. The highest point of the park is 61 metres abovesea level, from where there is a panoramic view of the coast ofPasir Panjang and some of theSouthern Islands, approximately 5 km off the south-western coast of Singapore. Islands such asPulau Bukom and Pulau Semakau are visible on a clear day.
Kent Ridge park,Telok Blangah Hill Park, andMount Faber Park are part of theSouthern Ridges trail that links all 3 parks via connecting bridges and paths.
The park is managed by the National Parks Board, and is open daily to the public. Admission is free except for entrance to the war museum. The park is accessible via entrances on Vigilante Drive and Pepys Road, offPasir Panjang Road.[9] Most of the remaining wild part of the park comprisessecondary forest with plants native to Singapore and PeninsularMalaysia such astembusu,angsana,white leaf fig,common pulai,Singapore rhododendron,pitcher plants,cicada tree andsimpoh air.[10]
The trails through the park, including one for mountain biking, run almost parallel along the ridge. There is a natural pond with fishes and turtles in the north-west of the park. A 280-metre long canopy walk was completed in the eastern part of the park in October 2003, linking Kent Ridge Park to the war museum, Reflections at Bukit Chandu, enhancing the park's and museum's accessibility to the public. Along the walk, there are information boards providing educational information on theflora andfauna in the park. At the half-way point, there is a shelter for visitors to take a short break or to enjoy a scenic view of Normanton Park and the National Parks Board's plantnursery.[9]
It is one of four popular birdwatching sites on mainland Singapore along withPasir Ris Park,Fort Canning Park andSungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.[11] Birds found in the park include:white-crested laughing thrush,collared kingfisher,white-bellied sea eagle,banded woodpecker,pink-necked pigeon,blue-tailed bee-eater,white-breasted waterhen, andspotted dove.[12]
Eco-tours and heritage tours are regularly organised by various special interest groups such as theNature Society Singapore and theRaffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, for students and the general public.[6]
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