Tucked away near the northern borders to Malaysia stands Woodlands Town Garden — a park that opened in 1983 adjacent to the old Woodlands Town Centre.
Though it may have been a nice spot of greenery in the day (complete with old, run-down structures that never really changed since the ‘80s), residents who grew up in Woodlands know that the park becomes a whole other animal at night. When the sun goes down and the sparsely-spaced lamp posts barely illuminate the grounds, Woodlands Town Garden becomes a seedy hotspot for vice activities such as drug usage, drug dealing, public fornication, and transvestite sex workers offering their services.
Today, however, following a 22-month complete overhaul, the old park has been rejuvenated into something more family-friendly. Now renamed Marsiling Park, the facelift includes greatly improved lighting, a restored mangrove area, and new boardwalks alongside improved iconic landmarks such as the viewing tower and Chinese-style pavilions.
The 13-hectare park now sports better play areas for children, including a butterfly-shaped playground, while adults can enjoy amenities such as fitness corners and a café that’ll apparently be open 24/7.
New Woodlands
Marsiling Park looks to be a far cry from its dirty, sordid past — a goal that former Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Member of Parliament (and now President) Halimah Yacob promised back in 2015. Under her watch, she pushed for the National Parks Board to develop and upgrade the park, while the police were urged to step up their patrols and raids in the area.
The park was closed in July 2016 for the overhaul, which itself is part of a major facelift for the entire district. Across the park, the old Woodlands Town Centre is currently closed to the public to make way for total demolition, and from the rubble will rise a brand new regional center that’ll serve as “Singapore’s Northern Gateway”. It’s all part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s plan to spruce up the area with new commercial spaces, industrial clusters, and the upcoming Woodlands North MRT station.
