Upper Seletar Reservoir Playground

Photo: View of childrens' playground (on left) from top of Observation Tower at Upper Seletar Reservoir.

Upper Seletar Reservoir Playground

Upper Seletar Reservoir Park has a special place in my heart. I've written about my experience at the look-out tower (also known as 'rocket tower' to me).

It was with much pleasure when I brought my kids to Upper Seletar Reservoir park recently. For me, this was a trip back to my childhood. But for my kids, the buy-in was the children's playground.

The look-out tower did not elicit signs of affection from them. For one of my kids, the reaction was quite the opposite. It was the fear of height that struck my youngest child. She had to be coaxed to climb the spiral staircase.

I have no impression of a children's playground when I visited Upper Seletar Reservoir decades ago.

Photo: PICAS. (P.S. I wasn't born yet when this picture was taken.)

What impressed me then (and even to this day) was the look-out (rocket) tower that still stands. I believe this rocket tower has been designated as a Singapore economic heritage site.

The children's playground I saw at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park delighted my kids. There was a UFO-like playground equipment that could take four seated kids on a see-saw with four separate seats. This contraption allowed my three kids and I to bounce up and down, and to swing to the left and right as if we were riding a rocket blasting into space.

Photo: Spaceship-like see-saw and the court of Hopscotch at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park playground.

Besides this spaceship-like see-saw, there was also a drawing on a mat-like surface for a classic game called hopscotch.

In my school days, we used to draw the hopscotch course on sand or soil with a piece of stone. I looked at the present hopscotch design and was impressed by the colour and the wonderful material that cushioned the impact of our jumps.

Photo: More playground amenities at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park playground.

Another colourful mat was noted near the hopscotch outline, although I have not figured out what game it is meant for. Does anyone know how to play that?

To round up the list of children's layground equipment at Upper Seletar Reservior park, there was a flying-fox-like piece of set-up where one could slide from one end to another.

If you run out of companion at this playground in Upper Seletar Reservoir, you may consider inviting the native residents to play with you. Just remember not to feed them at the end of your game.

Photo: Would you like to join us for a game or two at the children's playground?

See more places. Live more life.

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I Like To Visit Upper Seletar Reservoir Park Singapore

Upper Seletar Reservoir Park: Memory and History

Of all the reservoirs in Singapore, Upper Seletar Reservoir Park has my vote as the most memorable place of interest in Singapore that I’ve been to.

Built in 1920, it is the 3rd oldest reservoir to be built in Singapore. The source of the water comes from the adjacent catchment areas plus water pumped from nearby streams. The water is piped to Lower Pierce Reservoir and then to Woodleigh Waterworks for treatment and further distribution. The water surface area covers 3.24 sq km and is 17 m at its deepest point.

Bounded by Seletar Expressway and Mandai Road, this piece of real estate witnessed action during World War 2 when the dam was damaged. After expansion works were completed, Seletar Reservoir was officially declared open by Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra on 10 August 1969, during Singapore's 150th anniversary celebration of her founding.

Seletar Reservoir was renamed Upper Seletar Reservoir in 1992. Once banned, fishing in the reservoir has now been allowed along a designated stretch alongside Mandai Road in this 15 ha park. A shooting range nearby was where I honed my rifle shooting skills during National Service days. Other amenities like a playground, a public golf course and jogging tracks make up the remainder of this park.

I like the distinctive lookout tower where I used to climb its 85 steps as a child. I call it my “Rocket Tower” as there was an uncanny resemblance to the real thing on TV. From its rooftop observation deck, I would watch golden sunsets across the shimmering waters in the direction of the Singapore Zoological Gardens.

This reservoir also holds fond memories for me. In my secondary school days, I spent a night sleeping in the tower during a 2-day 1-night cycling expedition as a junior member of the scout movement. This was part of the requirement that our group of three had to pass in order to earn an Explorer Badge.

The sky broke and poured throughout that night. We sought refuge at the Rocket Tower and chose the largest area at the top of the spiral staircase to settle down for the night. Due to space constraint at the top of this spiral staircase and the rain pelting outside, we twisted our bodies and stretched ourselves out with ankles dangling over the steps. Through gaps in the tower wall, chilled wind cut through my poncho and bit my bones as I attempted sleep without wet socks. The next moment I opened my eyes, I remembered hearing footsteps coming up the black-as-soot stairway.

“Is that a foot?” a voice whispered.

“Ya, I think someone died!” another replied.

“Eee… better get out?”

“Wait… let’s poke it with the umbrella.”

At that point, I panicked and wriggled my toes from under the poncho. The voices transformed into screams and followed the footsteps down the stairs, never to return. The next morning my companions confirmed the encounter and I was glad I could put the thought of ghosts out of my mind.

Like it or not, there will always be memorable moments attached to some places in your life. Good, bad or weird, they will stick to you for life.

Do you have any memorable moments to share?

Take care, be happy.

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