Rebirth of the River : Designed based on a floodplain concept, people can get closer to water and enjoy recreational activities along the generous river banks when water level is low, and during heavy rain, park land that is next to the river doubles up as a conveyance channel, carrying the water flow downstream, enabling multiple land uses within the park and creating more spaces for communal activities.

Good implement: Construction of the naturalised river started in October 2009. In a feat of sequenced engineering, works to create the new river started while the canal was still functional. 1D and 2D hydraulic modelling studies of the planned river were made so that the team could predict the water course and design for a more robust and varied river. Complementing the computer simulations, traditional soil bioengineering techniques were proposed to stabilise the new river banks. A site within the park was commissioned to test 12 techniques new to the tropics, developing new knowledge and quelling doubts. Results proved healthy vegetation growth and in a reiterative process, soil conditions, slope and plant root strength were examples of adjustments made to the models. Lastly, design experts and clients invested heavily into the training of construction team, who took the first sketches into built form.

Vibrant River Park: The alignment of the new river channel integrates meanders and varying widths to create diverse flow patterns which are characteristic of natural river systems, creating ecologically valuable, natural and diverse habitats for biodiversity.

Biodiversity: No wildlife was introduced to the park, but the presence of the naturalized river has seen the park’s biodiversity increased by 30%. A total of 66 species of wildflower, 59 species of birds and 22 species of dragonfly have been since identified.The restoration of the river has created a huge variety of micro-habitats, which does not only increase the biological diverseness, but also the resilience of species within the park, making vast improvement to their long term survival ability.

Safety:“Wild” and natural is not necessarily more dangerous, the new system is actually a lot safer — even in a heavy flood downpour, the river fills slowly providing ample time for people to comfortably move away from the water to higher ground.

Working together to fulfil multiple objectives: Even before the park was completed, the phenomenon of “self-policing” had been observed with locals looking out for the cleanliness of the park and the safety of others. Now, self-organised interest groups meet regularly and schools have field trips to the park – all a reflection of a changing attitude and ownership towards the river park.