With the tallest outdoor play feature in Singpore, an outdoor classroom by the sea, a nature playgarden, and a water play area, the newly-opened Coastal PlayGrove at East Coast Park is the newest fun place to be for both kids AND youths!
Wait what, youths will find it fun too? Read on!
Located at the former Big Splash site, the 4.5-ha Coastal PlayGrove offers diversity in play through the use of shapes and colours reminiscent of its previous landscape, and features new and varied play areas with different concepts.
Admission is FREE and there are FIVE main play areas:
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| Credit: NParks |
PLAY TOWER
Opening hours (for Vertical Challenge only): 8am - 8pm on Tuesdays to Sundays
Undoubtedly, this is the star attraction of Coastal PlayGrove because not only is it suitable for kids, youths can go on it too!
Simply for this reason alone - the Play Tower stands at 16 metres high and is the TALLEST outdoor play feature in Singapore, featuring a vertical net play, the Vertical Challenge, and slides.
I love how the the play structure is housed within a reconstruct of the former iconic Big Splash tower, and even the structures in the matrix net are in red, orange, yellow, green and blue, reminiscent of the colourful water slides in the former waterpark!
In addtion, the design concept revolves around the theme of waves and shores, in line with the waterpark and coastal heritage of this landscape. But let's get to the fun part, shall we?
Important point to note before that though - the Play Tower is recommended for kids aged 13 and above. That's because of the climbing challenges involved. Should kids below 13 years old wish to enter, it is highly recommended that parents accompany them as well.
Also, the minimum height requirement to enter is 1.1m.
The straightforward way up is to climb up the vertical nets but there is also a ramp that snakes around the vertical play structure too.
Should they take on the Vertical Challenge, Kids and youths can enjoy play activities which include stepping pods, hammocks, hoop maze, zig-zag bridge, ball step traverse, wobble link, grip wall, wave traverse, and disc swings.
Once at the top, there are two enclosed tube slides, which are accessible from the third and fourth floor of the Play Tower, measuring 7.3 m and 11.9 m tall respectively.
Do take note of the recommended age for the slides:
Designed with various rope-based obstacles for more challenging and exploratory play, it will definitely attract lots of kids wanting to take on the climbing challenge!
LEISURE NETS & SAND PIT
At the base of the Play Tower are the Leisure Nets which are designed to resemble waves along the shore.
These nets are suitable for younger children, 5 to 12 years old to climb and explore.
Adjacent to the Leisure Nets is a large sand pit for free play.
WATER PLAY AREA
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm on Tuesdays to Sundays
Coastal PlayGrove also retains the waterpark theme with an inclusive water play area that features wading pools and jets of water.
So do bring along a change of clothes for the kiddos! 😁
A narrow stream with the water jets connects the two main pools, with platforms to allow wheelchair access along the main pools and the stream.
Visit the water play area at night, and see it being illuminated in various colours!
NATURE PLAYGARDEN
I had previously compiled the 11 Nature Playgardens in Singapore so this one at Coastal PlayGrove will be the 12th one!
As with the other Nature Playgardens, the nature playgarden at Coastal PlayGrove encourages children to play in an environment integrated with greenery. It is designed for ages 3 to 12, with
three themed zones.
In the first zone, a bamboo tunnel trail evokes a sense of mystery. The area is complemented with plants that provide copper and red tones from their foliage.
In the second zone, play elements include teepees, as a reference to camping, a popular activity in East Coast Park, as well as a trail created with logs.
The teepees enable children to engage in imaginative play. They also act as spaces to hide and withdraw from the main flow of activity.
The planting is a mix between exotic shrubs that attracts butterflies, as well as native plants to mimic the native forest habitat.
In the third zone, a trail leads to the sand pit, with a balancing board as a play element.
The zone is planted with native shrubs that attract biodiversity. For example, the Red Leea (Leea rubra) with its attractive bright red flowers are pollinated by bees and butterflies, and its fruits are food for birds and other small mammals. Another example is the Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) that has magenta pink petals and resemble a cherry blossom. The velvety fruits are oblong, purplish when ripe and provide food for many bird species. It is also the food plant for the caterpillars of the moths Carea varipes and Trabala vishnou.
In addition, kids can test their balace skills as they traverse along the log and tree stump obstacle course.
In all play features, natural materials such as wood, sand, and gravel are used as the play area is kept to a natural setting as much as possible.
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM BY THE SEA
This is NParks’ first outdoor classroom by the sea, designed for pre-schoolers. It is equipped with a chalkboard with boulders and log stools, with a view of the sea.
The outdoor classroom is planted with various fruit trees, such as the endangered Seashore Mangosteen and critically-endangered Ormocarpum cochinchinense. These interesting plants and their fruits serve as additional features for pre-schoolers to explore and discover.
There's even a hopscotch game that kids can play under a shady area!
The outdoor classroom also has a former hornbill’s nest, to kickstart conversations about wildlife conservation efforts.
This is a section of a tree trunk that was salvaged from a dead tree in East Coast Park. An artificial nest box for hornbills has also been installed in the Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum) in the outdoor classroom.
OTHER FACILITIES
In addition, there is an Event Lawn which serves to support sports activities and large-scale events.
FOOD & BEVERAGE OFFERINGS
Coastal PlayGrove also features other recreation and varied food options such as:
Once Upon a Time by The Tiara Society where children can engage in dress up play,
Food Splash, a multi-concept food outlet,
Oldtown White Coffee,
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE:
- To ensure safety of the play elements and compliance of social distancing measures, Coastal PlayGrove's play facilities (Play Tower (including Vertical Challenge) and water play area) will be temporarily closed when maximum use capacity is reached.
- There will be a limit of 20 pax per level for Vertical Challenge.
- The Vertical Challenge and Water Play Area are open on Tuesdays to Sundays (closed on Mondays) from 8am to 8pm.
- Visitors are encouraged to visit Coastal PlayGrove on weekdays or during off peak hours to avoid disappointment.
- Visitors should observe safe distancing, and keep to group sizes of eight people and below when visiting the park.
- Visitors are advised to be considerate of other members of the public and observe the advisories placed on site.
Coastal PlayGrove
Address: 902 East Coast Park Service Road, Singapore 449874
Admission: FREE
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