23 Best (& FREE!) Outdoor Playgrounds in the West of Singapore for Kids [UPDATED]

[UPDATE March 2021] Two more new playgrounds added to the list!

---

My last update for the list of outdoor playgrounds in the West of Singapore was slightly more than a year ago and since then, new playgrounds have opened while others were refurbished. In fact, while my previous list contained 12 outdoor playgrounds, I have added another 8 10 new entries to the list!

From the massive Forest Ramble outdoor playground (#1) at Jurong Lake Gardens to huge climbing structures (#6), tank (#11), army truck (#12), a Snakes-and-Ladders life-sized boardgame (#8) and even award-winning massive Play Curl structure (#3), I think the western part of Singapore boasts some of the most unique playgrounds!

So if you are planning for some outdoor fun with the kids, why not head down to these outdoor playgrounds located in the West?

BUT FIRST, PLEASE TAKE NOTE: The water playgrounds are currently closed due to Covid-19 and are expected to remain closed for the duration of Phase 2. In addition, certain areas of the playgrounds may be closed for upgrading works as well. If you do come across any, please let me know via Facebook or email so that I can update accordingly. Thanks!

1. Lakeside Garden @ Jurong Lake Gardens

Now this is the real biggie! The new 53-hectare Lakeside Garden is one huge park that will be more than enough to offer a day of fun and activities whether it is for families, couples or individuals.

Kids will no doubt love Forest Ramble which is the largest nature playgarden in the heartlands. The 2.3-hectare playgarden is HUGE and comprises of 13 adventure stations for kids to explore, while being set in a natural environment consisting of streams and plants.

Most interestingly, the playgarden's stattions are designed to emulate the movement of animals which inhabit a freshwater swamp forest. What this means is the play structures are designed to allow kids to mimic the movements of a monkey, frog, heron, crab, squirrel and even an otter!

There are also water play areas in the park - the Tidal Play Pool and Sand Play Pool. Kids can enter the Tidal Play Pool by walking down a gentle slope. Periodically, water will gush out from the steps, making the water level rise (up to 30cm in depth) which gives kids the opportunity to learn about natural tide cycles! At the Sand Play Pool, kids can experience the varying textures of sand while observing how water movements create wave-sculpted ripples in the sand.

Visitors can also head to Rasau Walk, a 300-metre meandering boardwalk along the water’s edge or zoom towards Grasslands which is dominated by tall grasses and small hills - AND totally made for Instagram! Read more about Lakeside Garden in my review HERE.

Address: Along Yuan Ching Road and Boon Lay Way
Opening hours: Always open
*Forest Ramble & Water play areas are open from 8am to 10pm, and closed on Mondays except for Public Holidays
Admission: FREE

2. West Coast Park

Although dethroned as the King of Playgrounds in the West by Jurong Lake Gardens, West Coast Park still packs a mean punch... thanks to its SEVEN different types of play areas which cater to different age groups - from the toddlers to even teenagers. Standing at the core of the park is the Adventure Play Area with a giant spiderweb-like structure that allows kids (and adults) to scamper up to dizzying heights.

Scampering up the giant spiderweb-like structure is a no-brainer but there’s more – the Ninja Warrior-inspired obstacle courses and Flying Fox installations are a hit with any one seeking to challenge one’s agility.

The little ones do not get left out too - there are two non-sand areas which cater to the youngest of toddlers.

Address: Parallel to West Coast Highway

3. Play Curl at Yung Ho Springs

Winner of the 2017 Landscape Industry Association (Singapore) Award, the Play Curl playground combines vertical play with discovery and active play experiences.

The massive play structure consists of three towers connected with two bridges, that span the walking path underneath. Each play tower has at least two different climbing routes to get to the bridge. Children can choose between a “difficult” or an “easy” way up depending on their own climbing skills. Inside children can relax and lounge or find different ways to continue their path.

The entire structure is enclosed so the children wont be able to fall or climb out accidentally. At the same time, they can always be watched from outside by parents.

Children can move around and climb into the play curl to explore more play elements inside, like hanging handles, ropes and rock climbing. At the end of it all, they can zip back to the ground level via one of two slides.

If you have younger kids, do pop by the other play structures beside the Play Curl too. The entire area is pretty hug, with plenty of play equipment to keep the kids - and even toddlers - busy!

Address: In front of Block 157 Yung Loh Road, Singapore 610157

4. Airplane Playground at Yung Ho Springs

Visiting Yung Ho Springs is like killing two birds with one stone - after visiting the Play Curl, walk towards Block 158 (behind Block 157) and let your kids continue to play at this Airpcraft playground.

It may only consist of one play structure but it isn't like your usual plastic structure. Instead, it is made up of concentric metal circles which form the body of the ariplane with a netting beneath it. This encourages kids to climb in whatever way they like, and make their way to the cockpit.

Address: In front of Block 158 Yung Loh Road, Singapore 610158

5. Jurong Spring Playfields

Instead of just the usual kids' playground and fitness corner found at most HDB estates, the Jurong Spring Playfields incorporate playgrounds, fitness corners, a basketball court and open green spaces to encourage residents as well as families to go outdoors and keep fit together.

For starters, kids will not be disappointed as there are a total of THREE playgrounds to choose from! The ever-popular Vertical Playground is here, in all its cheery yellow glory... and with a slight twist too. Kids will be able to climb up to the top of the structure and descend quickly via a tube slide.

Just beside it lies a giant rope structure which promises to offer lots of climbing fun for kids.

Younger kids need not feel left out, thanks to a smaller playground designed just for them.

And while the kids are kept busy at the playgrounds, parents can work up a sweat storm too at the fitness corner which consists of resistance bands and even weights!

Address: In front of Block 549 Jurong West St 42, Singapore 640549

6. Canopy Playground @ Block 247 Jurong East St 24

Tampines and Woodlands aren't the only towns with Canopy playgrounds. You can find a similar one in the West - at Jurong East!

Comprising of three towers, kids can scurry up the three-storey climbing structure via climbing rope ladders at two of the towers, traverses across the cargo netting and experience a quick descent through one of the two bright yellow slides at each end of the structure.

For younger kids, there is also a smaller playground located right beside the tower structures.

In addition, there is a giant climbing structure... just in case the kids can more energy to expend.

Address: In front of Block 247 Jurong East Street 24, Singapore 600247

7. Beauty Garden Park

This outdoor playground at Bt Batok wins for its sheer number of play structures for kids. Housing estate playgrounds usually sport only one or two play structures but this one at Beauty Garden Park has a total of SIX play structures!

In addition to the standard play equipment, it has a climbing polygon structure as well as one that consists of giant rubber strips (above pic) for kids to run up and maintain their balance. And it too incorporates technology into play with these two electronic play structures.

Not to worry for younger kids and toddlers. They too, have a dedicated giant play structure that include slides, swing pods and various pnaels for snesory play.

Address: 350 Bukit Batok Street 34, Singapore 650350

8. Jurong Central Park

Besides sporting a huge 8-hectare area for kids to run themselves silly, Jurong Central Park is the first park in Singapore to have life-sized board-game features in a park - Snakes and Ladders playground and Ludo Garden. The pavement around the playground area is marked with numbers and visitors can move around just like on an actual game board.

But how does one move on the boardgame without dice? The answer: use the dice tower built in the park which generates random die number for game play!

Rules for the Snakes and Ladders playground is just like its namesake board-game: landing on a ladder will see one climbing across the obstacle to reach a higher board space while landing on a snake will allow one to descend to a lower board space via a slide. It just could not get more fun than this - and a fantastic way to bundle boardgame fun with physical activity!

Address: Jalan Boon Lay junction with Boon Lay Way

9. Alexandra Linear Park

How often can one find FIVE playgrounds along a stretch of ONE park? The Alexandra Canal Linear Park is one of the most unique parks in Singapore, thanks to it being built on top of a covered canal. It starts from Queenstown MRT Station, passing by Strathmore Estate all the way to Tanglin Road.

And if that sounds like an awfully long distance to bring your kids, it actually isn't - it is only a 1.4km stretch, which is easily doable for a nice stroll.

Comprising of 5 playgrounds - a Rope Bridge Playground included - the park also hides the bonus of a Water Terrace and Skate Park!

Although some of the 5 playgrounds along the park are the usual playgrounds that one can find near most HDB estates but put them collectively together, these band of 5 serve as a good incentive to bring your kids on a morning's worth of leisure stroll and get some exercise going for the family.

Address: Parallel to Strathmore Avenue (Block 83)

10. J Link Children's Playground

Situated just behind J Cube, the J Link pedestrian mall that provides a seamless pedestrian connection from Jurong Gateway where the Jurong East MRT Station is located to the Lakeside area where the current Science Centre is.

And part of that space includes a unique children’s playground which provides kids with a place to play and explore. The playground design also complements the rolling landscape of J Link.

Even though the play area may be smaller than the usual playgrounds, there are ample play points such as tunnels, ropes, climbing nets and a slide to occupy the younger kids.

Address: J Link, 134 Jurong Gateway Road Singapore 600134

11. Keat Hong Quad (Choa Chu Kang)

Sembawang has the Battleship play structure and now, Choa Chu Kang has its own Tank play structure. I can already foresee plenty of kids clambering on the tank to play!

Internally, the tank has rope nettings within to encourage even more climbing and scurrying, something which I think kids will never say no to.

Oh, and it also has a Vertical Playground too!

This Vertical Playground looks entirely different from the rest of the other public ones. While the rest are encased in see-through grills, this new playground is covered with grey metal meshing and sports a colour different from the usual orange.

The playground also has a swing netting, as well as a play area for younger children.

Address: 815C Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, Singapore 683815

12. Keat Hong Mirage

Sandwiched between Blocks 818B and 818C at Choa Chu Kang Ave 1 (Keat Hong Mirage), the most eye-catching play structure is undoubtedly the bright green army truck.

Much like the Crooked Houses playground in Yishun, the structure is designed by MONSTRUM, a danish company famed for reinventing the notion of kids' playgrounds through artistic and design-related thematic areas that fascinates and inspires both kids and adults. Kids will be able to clamber onto the truck and get into the driver's seat or scamper to the back of the truck where a green slide awaits.

Of course, the other highlight at the playground is the lookout tower which pays homage to the military lookout posts of yesteryear. Kids will be able to climb up via the rope ladder or rock wall, and whizz themselves down the fireman pole. It is pretty high though, so a huge dose of adrenaline rush is guaranteed.

Address: 818B & 818C Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, Singapore 683818

13. Keat Hong Woods

Compared to the other more unique playgrounds in this list, the playground at Keat Hong Woods may come across as pretty normal-looking. However, if you have kids who cannot seem to get enough of climbing high and low, then the elongated play structure will certainly have them excited... especially when there's also a climbing net dome right beside!

Located about 50m away is another playground which is suited for younger kids.

Address: Keat Hong Woods, Behind Block 803C Keat Hong Close, Singapore 682803

14. Zhenghua Nature Park

Located in Bukit Panjang, Zhenghua Park stretches for about 2.5 km along the BKE, linking the Bukit Panjang Park Connector to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Serving as a green buffer for the reserve, the nature park is also home to a playground for kids.

The playground is situated some distance behind Block 248 Bangkit Road, and it adopts a more rugged theme with climbing structures and slides to keep the little ones happy. In addition, the entire playground is built on a huge sandbox for children to engage in imaginative play.

Granted that the playground equipment is pretty normal compared to other playgrounds in the list but if you are looking for a pleasant retreat (read: playgrounds free from overcrowding with kids) from the hustle and bustle of the usual playgrounds, this will be your best bet.

Address: Bangkit Road Entrance, Behind Block 248 Bangkit Road

15. Bt Batok East Playgrounds

The Play Tower at Block 283 Bukit Batok East Ave 3 boasts a splendid climbing design where kids have to climb up through a tower via a spiral netting at one end of the structure. After crawling through a slanted wooden bridge and navigating through a series of platforms and climbing ropes, the slide awaits.

If you have extra time to spare, take a short stroll to Block 266 at Bt Batok East Ave 4 where kids will be able to play on the newest Vertical Playground to open in Singapore!

Bukit Batok East Playground

Address: 283 Bt Batok East Ave 3. Singapore 650283

Bukit Batok East Vertical Playground

Address: 266 at Bt Batok East Ave 4, Singapore 650266

16. Firefly Park

Surrounded by five thematic gardens, Firefly Park at Clementi Ave 4 consists of two playgrounds for toddlers aged two to five years old and kids aged six to 12 years old.

The play structure has a tall slide, complete with a high walkway which children will relish in climbing up. Add a cool obstacle course and mini rock climbing wall to the mix and the kids will pretty much play themselves silly. Oh and do I spy a set of old-school swings too?

Address: 304 Clementi Ave 4, Singapore 120304

17. Pavilion Park Playground

Tucked away in a quiet corner off Pavilion Circle, the quaint Pavilion Park features a terrace playground with two embankment slides, climbing arches and swinging saddles.

The steps on one of the terraces is deliberately made thinner to allow younger kids to climb more easily. The other terrace consists of 'thicker' levels to up the challenge.

Address: Pavilion Park, 19 Pavilion Circle, Singapore 658489

18. Kinetic Garden

NOTE: From now til further notice, Kinetic Garden is only open on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays every week.

Granted this isn't your typical outdoor playground but consider the Kinetic Garden a science playground that makes learning fun! That's because it is a great free place to spend an hour or two exploring and enjoying the many educational structures which demonstrates certain scientific priciples and phenomena. Not only is the Garden expansive and filled with plenty of hands-on structures, there are clear signs describing each of their functions. 

Kids can discover the inter-relationships between the different forms of energy and much more through interactive and interesting exhibits like the Magic Swing, a Sundial and a Lithophone.

Address: Entrance to Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm daily (Closed between 1pm and 2pm for disinfection)

Price: Free

19. Jem Shopping Mall Dry & Wet Playground
NOTE: The playground is currently closed due to Covid-19

The playground Jem Shopping Mall at Jurong East Central has re-opened after upgrading works. And even better news, it looks much MORE fun than the previous version!

Inspired by honeycombs, the sheltered outdoor playground is located on Level 5 and just outside of the foodcourt. Taking centrestage is the huge web canopy, where kids can climb to their hearts' content.

There is also an amazing water play area. Just hit the switch and watch streams of water cascade down into a mini pool!

This has got to be one of the more orginal playground designs that I have seen - a playground that combines both dry and wet play elements into one play structure.

Address: Jem Shopping Mall Playground, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549, Level 5 (Beside the foodcourt)

20. Westgate Wonderland
NOTE: The playground is currently closed due to Covid-19

Adopting a Fantasy Garden Theme, Westgate Wonderland is Singapore’s largest thematic outdoor playground featuring three zones - one dry play area each for those aged below 5 years and for older children, and a wet play area for all.

Flowers that respond to touch with musical sounds and lights are just but one of the many interactive elements found in the playground. Older kids can scale a 10-metre high tree house and come whizzing down via a meandering tube slide. At the heart of the water play area, a large watering can with an active spray nozzle towers over the children, making all them drenched and deliriously happy. Mini water fountains are also planted all around, increasing the splashing fun factor.

The magical surroundings come alive at night with special lighting and sound effects. That, and the presence of a Changing Room located just beside the wet area is music to parents’ ears too.

Address: 3 Gateway Drive, #04-00, Westgate, Singapore 608532
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily

[NEW ADDITON!]

21. Clementi Crest

The new cluster of HDB flats at Clementi Central has two new outdoor playgrounds for all to enjoy - one for younger kids and the other for older kids.

For kids aged 2 to 5 years old, head to the Hansel & Gretel-inspired Candy Trail Playground at Block 445 Clementi Crest. Here, they will find a host of whimsical play strutcures from a wooden plank bridge to spinning Candy Apple Trees to an Adventure Bridge.

The centrepiece of the playground has got to be the life-sized Gingerbread House and a pastry slide!

As for kids aged between 5 and 12 years old, they get to test their agility and climbing skills at the Adenturous Treehouse playground located beside Block 445B Clementi Crest.

Consisting of 2 treehouse play structures, kids can climb the Wall and Ladder obstacle, cross the Slanted Bridge, crawl through the Tunnel Bridge and finish off by crossing the Wobbly Net Rope!

Read my detailed post HERE.

[NEW ADDITON!]

22. Origami Outdoor Playground @ Jurong West

Jurong West Street 81, Block 826, Singapore 640826

Singapore's FIRST Origami-themed outdoor playground consist of various play elements contained within the main play structures. Kids can test their balancing skills at the swinging hammocks or across the rope lines. Or they can scurry up the climbing wall to reach the top in the shortest time possible.

It is wonderful how the playground stucture integrates slides, climbing, netting, and hammocks into one a colourful Origami Rock Sculpture.

If you have younger kids, there is also a play area with various play structures meant for them. Besides a gentler slide, spinning cups and see-saw, kids can imagine themselves to be bunnies and 'burrow' through a short tunnel to stick their heads into the clear hemisphere.

Read my detailed review HERE.

[NEW ADDITON!]

23. Clementi Woods Park

Along West Coast Road next to West Coast Plaza

With its tall mature native trees and natural vegetation, Clementi Woods Park is a welcoming retreat for those looking to get close to nature.

There is a small playground located at the centre of the park. But for more fun, head to the Nature Playgarden which is designed for pre-schoolers to encourage them to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with nature.

The children's imagination can run wild as they explore the different play features created to stimulate senses, do imaginative play, develop motor skills and discover the greenery around the playgarden.

Do share if you know of any other cool outdoor playgrounds in the West!