Vanda Miss Joaquim Park - Part 2

Vanda Miss Joaquim Park - Part 2

The mystery of how the Vanda Miss Joaquim Park collected its name is explained in this plaque planted within its grounds.

"This garden commemorates the founder and the birthplace of our national flower, Vanda Miss Joaqium. Historical records show that Miss Joaqium stayed around this area during the late 1800s."

I believe there is a typo error on the plaque. The letters 'i' and 'u' are reversed in the word "Joaqium". Probably a contractor mixed up the letters.

If you wonder what the Vanda Miss Joaquim flower looks like, the photograph of the flower is here at Nparks. You can scrutinize the spelling and compare it with Nparks. There is also a little write-up about Miss Joaquim and our national flower.

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Smallest Park In Singapore: Vanda Miss Joaquim Park

Photo: Stop! No entry! Is Vanda Miss Joaquim Park The Smallest In Singapore?

Smallest Park In Singapore: Vanda Miss Joaquim Park

The Vanda Miss Joaquim Park is a little red dot of parkland that you can find within the shores of our Little Red Dot. I believe it is the smallest park in Singapore. Yet despite its size, simple features stand out to give this park its unique character.

It has its own arched entrance, a red Chinese-style pavilion, a concrete chessboard, its own landscaping that comes complete with plots of bamboos. There are benches that allow residents to sit and enjoy listening to the rustle of leaves when an occasional breeze passes by. Tall trees at Vanda Miss Joaquim Park provide good canopy against a tropical sun.

Photo: Vanda Miss Joaquim Park With Bamboo Plots and Temple In Background.

Vanda Miss Joaquim Park park blends well into a corner of Chinatown along Yan Kit Road, near to Tanjong Pagar Plaza. Other buildings of note around this area are Phoo Thor Jee Temple, Yan Kit Swimming Pool (closed) and Duxton Plain Park.

Despite its unique name that is shared by our national flower, I did not see any orchids, much less the Vanda Miss Joaquim flower, in this serene garden. I suspect the park was named after a famous visiting dignitary on an auspicious occasion.

This well-used park shows its age. That is a good sign for a park as it indicates that residents have made Vanda Miss Joaquim Park their own private playground. Such a small simple garden with its conducive mingling areas for residents, augmented with useful amenities, certainly encourages neighbourly interaction that is often lacking in many other bigger parks and gardens in this fast-paced society of ours.

Do you like to visit parks and gardens in Singapore? Share your thoughts with Seen This Scene That readers in the comments below.

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