A popular spot for families, Coney Island Park promises a wide variety of habitats, including coastal forests, grasslands, mangroves, and casuarina woodlands. Here are some to-dos for families visiting!
Venue: Punggol Promenade Nature Walk, Singapore 829325
Opening Hours: 7 am - 7 pm
Fees: Free
You may have seen the pictures of the famous Coney Island Park gates, but did you know there is more to do on the island apart from snapping that instagram-worthy shot?
Getting To Coney Island
The island was only accessible by boat before 2015, but this changed when 2 new bridges were built to connect the 81 hectares island to mainland Singapore. From the West Promenade, you have the connection from the Punggol Promenade Nature Walk and on the East Promenade, Lorong Halus and Pasir Ris Industrial Drive 6.
The easiest way of getting to the island will be to get to Punggol Point Park / Punggol Settlement, you can either drive (parking is available) or take bus 84 from Punggol Interchange. Walk about 500m along the Punggol Promenade Nature Walk to get to Coney Island Park West Entrance.
What To Expect?
The park was opened in Oct 2015 after a 15 months makeover, and NParks has deliberately kept the rustic character of the park to preserve the park's natural habitat. It houses a wide variety of habitats, including coastal forests, grasslands, mangroves, and casuarina woodlands, and is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora, some of which are critically endangered.
The rustic Coney Island Park is an ecologically sustainable park, it focuses on conserving energy and water, recycling and retaining of the natural elements in the park. The timber from uprooted Casuarina trees were collected and recycled into park signage, seats, benches, boardwalk, and exhibits at Casuarina Exploration.
It is also important to note that there are no electricity or piped water on the island, so please remember to bring sufficient water when visiting the park. Also, help maintain the tranquility of the park by clearing your trash with you too!
What Can Families Do At Coney Island Park?
The park is popular with the public, you can see people running or in bicycles entering the park. But what about families? Let us share what you can do at the park!
Do note that the terrain in the park is rugged at areas, and children (especially younger ones) should be dressed appropriately and taken-care of. Especially remember to wear proper covered shoes!
#1 Pose With The Iconic Coney Island Gates
Image Credits: Singapore Walking Routes
Located at both the West and East entrances, don't forget to grab photos of the iconic gates before the start of your adventure. Don't leave it to the end as the kids might be too tired after all that activity!
#2 Cycling Through The Island
You may ride through the island along the 2.5 km Coney Island Park Connector, taking in the beautiful promenade view of the Serangoon Reservoir. It connects the West and East end of the island, so you may wish to plan for double the distance and time for a trip to and fro.
Bring your own or you may also rent a bike from Punggol Point Park. Check out other bicycle rentals around Singapore.
#3 Explore The Island's Habitats AND Beaches
Start exploring the forest and mangrove habitats on the newly built boardwalk and move on to the beach which can be accessed at five locations. Look out for the signs that will direct you to any of the 5 beach areas, Beach Area A to E.
It will be a nice break from your run or ride as you take in the sea breeze!
#4 Play At The Nature Playgarden
Photo Credit: The Straits Times
This adventure area, known as the Casuarina Exploration was constructed using felled Casuarina trees and other recycled materials. The ground material was made with sand recycled from the nearby beach. Besides being environmentally friendly, the use of these materials gives the adventure area a rustic feel.
The Casuarina Exploration will be a great fun for all ages! Weave through the 'Millipede', keep your balance on the 'Earthworm' or hop across the 'Caterpillar'! You may wish to explore more outdoor playgrounds in Singapore too!
#5 Spot Wildlife - Especially Birds!
Coney Island Park is home to various little animals and insects, but more so are the over 80 species of birds on the island, including the resident male Baya Weavers weaving their large and intricate nests from flowering Acacia trees.
Camouflage in the bird hides or wait patiently from the forested trails to hear the Oriental Magpie-robin’s songs from the forest, or follow the flocks of parakeets flying through the forest canopies. The different habitats in the park allow for a high diversity in bird species, thus making the park an ideal location for birdwatching. With its rich biodiversity in a rustic setting, Coney Island Park offers much to explore for bird and nature enthusiasts.
#6 Go On A Ecolife Family Tour
NParks conducts Ecolife Family Tours that introduces Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Coney Island Park and their biodiversity – have fun working together answering worksheets, conducting surveys and going for photo hunts, among other activities. Online registration opens a month prior to the event - do check the official website for any updates on the events.
Planning Your Trip
What to Bring
Bring along insect repellent and sunscreen. It is suggested that you should wear long pants and covered shoes for protection from insects such as sandflies, and also to protect yourselves from the rugged terrain.
There are no water points on the island, so do remember to bring enough water for the entire family too. While you may wish to bring food along, but do try not to hold them (even in plastic bags) on hand as that might attract the monkeys. NParks advises to keep a safe distance from the Long-tailed Macaques, keep a safe distance and do not feed them.
Best Times To Visit
The park is mostly shaded, but the best time will be early morning or evenings to avoid the heat and sun. Definitely do not try to visit during or if it looks like a storm is approaching. Do keep in mind that the park is closed from 7 pm to 7 am.
Now that you are done visiting the park, how about visiting the many other parks that Singapore has to offer too!
*Photo Credits: NParks, unless otherwise mentioned
