Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

The Kallang river ran through this park in a straight concrete channel until 2012, when it was rebuilt as a meandering natural river with planted banks and soil bioengineering instead of concrete, which was a substantial piece of engineering and has been widely copied. Wildlife moved in, including a family of smooth-coated otters that became national celebrities and are now regularly filmed. The river takes flood water when it rains, so the banks flood by design.

What you actually see

• The naturalised river - a concrete canal rebuilt as a meandering waterway.
• The otters - the smooth-coated otter family the park is known for.
• The bioengineered banks - soil and planting holding the channel instead of concrete.
• The flood design - banks built to flood safely when the river rises.

When to go

Year round; early morning and evening are when otters are most likely. The riverbanks close when water levels rise and the warnings should be obeyed. Weekends are crowded.

Honest expectations

Otters are wild and sightings are luck; they move between parks. The river floods by design and the alarms mean get off the bank immediately. Weekend crowds are heavy.

Nearby

Lower Peirce is north, and Toa Payoh is south.