Coney Island Park

Coney Island, or Pulau Serangoon, was opened as a park in 2015 and managed on an unusual principle: leave it rough. The paths are gravel rather than paved, fallen trees are left where they fall, and the vegetation is a mix of casuarina, coastal forest and grassland with no manicuring. Beaches face the Johor Strait. A small herd of feral cattle lives in the interior and is occasionally seen. Bicycles are the usual way round.

Background

The island covers 133 hectares off the northeastern coast, between Pulau Ubin to the northeast and the mainland to the southwest. Aw Boon Haw and his sibling Aw Boon Par once owned it, and in 1950 it was sold to Ghulam Mahmood, who planned a resort modelled on the amusement area of Coney Island in New York. Reclamation from 1975 to the 1990s cut the channel to Punggol to 100m, though motor launches were still needed to cross until the park opened on 10 October 2015. Two bridges now link its western and eastern ends to the main island. The park opened with a beach 2 kilometres long and a path of 2.4 kilometres on the park connector network.

Source: Wikipedia, "Coney Island, Singapore"

Highlights

• The rough management - gravel paths and fallen trees left in place deliberately.
• The feral cattle - a small herd living in the island interior.
• The beaches - five small shores facing the Johor Strait.
• The birdlife - over eighty species recorded, including the rare Baya weaver.

When to go

Year round; early morning is coolest and best for birds. The park closes at seven in the evening. Afternoon storms are common and there is little shelter.

Before you go

There is almost no shade on some stretches and no facilities inside. The cattle are wild and should be given distance. Bicycles must be brought or hired at Punggol.

Nearby

Punggol Waterway Park is south, and Pasir Ris is east.

Key facts