Toa Payoh Dragon Playground
A 1979 mosaic dragon playground in the heartlands, the last of its kind with the original sand base.
Updated 22 October 2026
The Housing Board designed a series of playgrounds in the 1970s with local motifs, and the dragon at Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, built in 1979 to a design by Khor Ean Ghee, became the best known: a segmented body of concrete and terrazzo tiled in red and yellow mosaic, with a head to climb into and a slide down the tail. Most were replaced with rubber-floored equipment; this one kept its sand base, which is why people come to see it.
History
The playground was built in 1979 in front of block 28 on Lorong 6, designed by Khor Ean Ghee of the Housing & Development Board after an experimental dragon in Toa Payoh Town Park; when the blocks around it were to be cleared in 2014, the playground was kept (Wikipedia, Toa Payoh Dragon Playground).
What's there
- The mosaic dragon - a segmented body tiled in red and yellow terrazzo.
- The sand base - the original sand pit, removed from almost every other example.
- The dragon head - the climbing structure at one end with the slide at the other.
- The 1979 design - Khor Ean Ghee's work for the Housing Board.
When to go
Year round; it is a working playground in a housing estate and open at all hours. Late afternoon brings children. Mornings are quiet for photography.
What to expect
It is a small playground in a residential block, not an attraction, and takes ten minutes. Children use it and adults photographing it should be mindful. The nearby blocks are people's homes.
Nearby
Lian Shan Shuang Lin is nearby, and Bishan is north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q111940259, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Toa Payoh Dragon Playground
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.