East Coast Park Might Change In The Future With The New Long Island

Singapore just announced that they'll be reclaiming land at East Coast Park to protect the coastal areas that are the most susceptible to climate change. This integrated solution came about from the need to build a seawall around East Coast Park, which in turn led to this solution instead. So what does that have to do with us?

What is Long Island?

Credit: Urban Redevelopment Authority

Long Island will be a huge 800ha reclaimed land that will be done on the waterfront of East Coast Park. This means that the existing waterfront will now be moved further up into the sea. In the middle of the island will be a reservoir so you won't miss out on the waterfront views or sea breeze.

What will Long Island have?

We stated how there would be a reservoir in the middle of the island, but there are other plans for the area as well! There are plans to ensure that there will still be recreational activities available, where people can enjoy what East Coast Park has offered for years to come. The new island will also add around 20km of new and coastal waterfront parks to enjoy! If you would like to give feedback, you can do so here!

What does this mean for East Coast Park?

Well, there are a few things that could happen during this. The construction* of Long Island would affect your experience at East Coast Park! The sea breeze and tranquility may be affected since construction will be done throughout the whole park's coastal edge. However, don't fret yet as we are still in the early stages! Early 2024 will be the start of their technical studies, and construction won't start within the next few years. It's expected to take decades to finish!

*We, as of yet, do not know when it will start or end but take note of this page as we update it.

For the park itself, you would still be able to visit the eateries, and playgrounds, ride on bikes, and enjoy it while this is all going on. There is a matter of the coastal environment around the area, as we all know that low tides have exposed some amazing local sea life such as starfish and sea cucumbers that inhabit the quieter areas of East Coast Park. There are efforts to ensure that this isn't affected!

East Coast Park has a ton of camping grounds that have been popular for ages. This may be expanded to Long Island, giving you a more scenic view of the sea (as we'll be further in!). Since reclamation has not been done yet, why not drop by and enjoy the scenic views and quiet nights?

There's an exhibition by URA at The URA Centre Atrium until 1 March 2024. It visualises what this would look like if you're curious! It'll be held together with the URA’s Urban Lab exhibition, ‘Shaping a Heat Resilient City’ too. Admission is free.

We know East Coast Park has been a must-go destination for tourists and locals alike! While the plans have yet to be fulfilled, we're excited to see what such a big change to one of Singapore's famous coastal areas will look like and what fun activities there are to discover!