PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS IN PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL ESTATES (Plans for upgrading)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Leong Horn Kee -

Mr Leong Horn Kee: To ask the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry has any plans to upgrade the playgrounds and parks in private residential estates.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Yuhua): Question No. 7, Sir.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Minister for National Development): The Parks and Recreation Department maintains 130 parks and open spaces in private housing estates. These vary in size from less than 0.1 hectare to about 2 hectares, and occupy a total area of nearly 76 hectares.

The Department regularly inspects these parks and open spaces as part of its normal maintenance and upkeep programme. Facilities and equipment which require upgrading or replacement are identified during these regular maintenance inspections. Based on these inspections as well as other feedback, the Department carries out the required upgrading and improvement work to ensure that equipment provided is safe and that facilities remain adequate.

In fiscal year 1992, 49 of these parks and open spaces were upgraded at a total cost of $426,000. The upgrading included repair and replacement of play equipment and footpaths, addition of play equipment, benches and other basic facilities, and improvements to drainage.

The Department will continue with this approach in upgrading playgrounds and open spaces in private housing estates.