An ambitious project to replace the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex with a major community sports and entertainment precinct has been revealed by lead agency Sport Singapore.
Projected to be completed by 2030, the Toa Payoh Integrated Development is to include a regional sport centre, a regional town park, a library and a polyclinic, with the sports facilities to include a new rectangular stadium, a repurposed aquatic centre, badminton courts, a community gym with fitness studios, sheltered tennis courts, sheltered futsal courts and a jogging trail.
Located in Toa Payoh, a planning area and mature residential town sited in the northern part of the Central Region of Singapore, the 12-hectare site - an existing public park with adjoining athletics stadium and the five pool Toa Payoh Swimming Complex - that has been reimagined and designed as an integrated development by a team led by locally-based MKPL in collaboration with Populous.
Seen as an extension of Toa Payoh town centre, the Toa Payoh Integrated Development is envisioned to become a lifestyle destination with ample community spaces, giving residents health, wellness and learning experiences, while preserving the heritage and greenery in a connective landscape.
Key aspects of the development include a repurposing of the existing Toa Payoh Stadium from an athletics venue into a rectangular stadium designed to be capable of hosting international events with a FIFA compliant pitch, along with offering extensive player and facilities for officials.
Other repurposing will see parts of the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex covered.
Sport Singapore (SportSG) is the lead agency for the development, supported by the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore National Parks Board and the Singapore National Library Board.
Gathering residents' feedback on the development's preliminary design and its facilities as part of a public consultation phase, a media release from the agencies introducing the project advised "envisioned to be an extension of Toa Payoh Town Centre (it will) serve the residents in the central region (providing) a lifestyle destination with community facilities and space.”
Advising that the new integrated development is part of efforts to bring quality sporting infrastructure closer to the community, SportSG Chief Executive Lim Teck Yin noted "once completed, it will build on its heritage and be a boon to sports fans and the active lifestyles of many Singaporeans.”
Commenting on the project, Populous Senior Principal, Andrew Tulen stated “the mix of programme and the connectivity of the site to the residents of Toa Payoh, represents a forward thinking and sustainable design model that should be a benchmark for future integrated developments in Asia.”
Besides the sports centre, the redeveloped Toa Payoh Polyclinic will also be part of the new integrated development.
The current aquatic and sport facilities at Toa Payoh It hosted the Southeast Asia Peninsular Games in 1973, the SEA Games in 1983, 1993 and 2015, as well as the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
Images: Concepts for the Toa Payoh Integrated Development. Credit: MKPL/Populous/ Sport SG.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
Related Articles
17th February 2023 - Peranakan Museum in Singapore reopens to public after nearly four years of renovation
11th February 2023 - Singapore to host 2025 World Aquatics Championships
12th December 2022 - Sport Singapore completes takeover of nation’s Sports Hub
3rd December 2022 - Singapore Marathon 2022 features mass start and road race format
13th October 2022 - Bangladesh Cricket Board engages Populous to design new 50,000-capacity stadium
26th September 2022 - Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park to close in January 2023
5th August 2022 - Singapore Marathon announces new partnership and unveils designs of race apparel and medals
3rd August 2022 - Minister confirms cost of terminating Singapore Sports Hub partnership
15th July 2022 - Mount Faber Leisure Group unveils new attraction for Singapore’s Sentosa Island
12th July 2022 - More people using Singapore’s ActiveSG fitness facilities than before the pandemic
8th July 2022 - Populous collaborates with PWR to create the first elite sports facility in the metaverse
11th June 2022 - Singapore Government to take over the ownership and management of National Stadium and Sports Hub
18th March 2022 - Singapore Government announces plan to encourage physical activity and bring back mass participation events
24th February 2022 - Singapore’s World Health, Fitness and Wellness Festival to return
8th February 2022 - US$1 billion transformation plan commences at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands
12th January 2022 - Multi-generational wellness garden in Singapore’s East Coast Park to be launched as of the end of 2023
23rd November 2021 - ASM Global grows Asia Pacific footprint with new Singapore regional headquarters
29th October 2021 - Populous designs world first net zero carbon arena
22nd December 2020 - Latest renderings released of Populous designed Hong Kong Kai Tak Sports Park
4th January 2018 - High levels of ammonia and body waste detected in Singapore’s public pools
9th July 2012 - Futsal facility opens on Singapore rooftops
20th March 2012 - Singapore to host 2012 Southeast Asia Swimming Championships
