EXERCISE AND PLAY EQUIPMENT AT PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

EXERCISE AND PLAY EQUIPMENT AT PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

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(Maintenance and upgrading): **

34.

Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development whether there is a schedule for the maintenance and upgrading of exercise and play equipment at public parks and playgrounds and, if so, how frequently is the maintenance and upgrading done and who is in charge of it.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Exercise and play equipment are found in public parks and playgrounds located both within and outside HDB housing estates, and their maintenance is the responsibility of the Town Councils and NParks respectively. Town Councils and NParks generally conduct checks on the working condition and safety of the equipment at least once a month. Through such regular inspections as well as based on residents’ feedback, any defective equipment that has been identified would be repaired or even replaced.

Besides the regular maintenance, Town Councils and NParks also upgrade the exercise and play equipment based on assessed needs or when the equipment is due for replacement. They can also be upgraded as part of a precinct upgrading programme 1 in HDB housing estates and the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) in private estates.

Incident at fitness corner in Circle Green Park on 19th September 2007

I believe the Member's question may have arisen from the recent incident at the fitness corner at Circle Green Park, where a resident hurt her palm when using the exercise equipment. In that particular case, the equipment had been inspected and checked by Sembawang Town Council on a weekly basis. In fact, the last check prior to the incident was made the day before, and the equipment was found to be in serviceable condition.

Based on Sembawang Town Council's investigation, the resident's palm was cut by an exposed retaining pin, as the protective cap was missing. As the cap could not have been removed without the use of tools, it appears that the equipment had been vandalised. The TC has since improved the positioning of the retaining pin and further tightened it. In addition, the TC is also in discussion with the supplier to see whether the cap can be more tightly secured to the wheel handle. I would like to take this opportunity to remind users of the exercise and play equipment in public parks and playgrounds to exercise appropriate caution and to report any defects to the authorities.

1 Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) Plus or Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP).