Kent Ridge Park is a 47-hectare public park located in southwest Singapore, on Vigilante Drive off South Buona Vista Road. Situated between the Singapore Science Park and the National University of Singapore, the park honours the Duchess and Duke of Kent. Bukit Chandu, a hill in the park, is the site of one of the last battles bitterly fought by the Malay Regiment against the Japanese Army during World War II.
History
Kent Ridge Park was initially a lowland evergreen forest. Settlers in the early 19th century planted crops like rubber, pepper, gambier and pineapple on it, but many of the plantations were destroyed or abandoned during the Japanese Occupation.
Formerly known as Pasir Panjang Park, it was renamed Kent Ridge Park in honour of the Duchess of Kent and her son, the Duke of Kent, who visited the ridge in 1952. On 3 October 1952, a plaque that commemorates their visit and renames the park was erected at the junction of Kent Ridge Road and South Buona Vista Road.
During World War II, the British Army used Kent Ridge Park as a fortress to defend Singapore against Japanese invasion in February 1942. It was an area of strategic importance to the British, being a gateway to the northern sector of Singapore with access to the Alexandra area where military installations, the main ammunition armoury and the British Military Hospital, were located.
Bukit Chandu, a hill in Kent Ridge Park, was the site of the fierce 48-hour Battle for Pasir Panjang between the Japanese 18th Division and Charlie Company (C Coy), a 42-man platoon from the 1st and 2nd Battalion of the Malay Regiment, led by 2nd Lieutenant Adnan Saidi. On 13 February 1942, the Japanese focused their attack on the southern coastal area of Singapore, particularly Pasir Panjang Ridge, battering it with heavy mortar, artillery fire and aerial support.
The Malay Regiment put up a strong resistance against the Japanese attack, hampering their advance and pressuring them to retreat for the night. In the afternoon of 14 February however, the Malay Regiment was defeated, following a strong reprisal by the Japanese despite having put up a spirited and courageous defence.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the National Heritage Board erected a plaque at Carpark B of the park in February 1995 and gazetted the park as one of 11 World War II sites in Singapore.
The Ministry of Defence also placed two sets of M114 Howitzer guns and a set of AMX-134 Light Tanks on permanent display at the park, as it adopted the park as the Army Green Park.
Description
With a variety of historical and natural attractions, Kent Ridge Park is a popular lifestyle destination for families, fitness and mountain biking enthusiasts, bird watchers, picnickers, joggers, photographers and students on excursions.
Being a ridge, the main characteristic of Kent Ridge Park is its lookout points. The park's highest point is Carpark B, at 61 metres above sea level and provides panoramic views of West Coast Park, Pulau Buran Darat, Pulau Bukom, and some southern offshore islands.
The park has history and nature trails that visitors can take to learn about the park's history as a battleground and its rich diversity of flora and fauna. A nature trail is situated near Carpark A, with pitcher plants and wild orchids growing alongside it. Beside this is a biking trail that provides technical single-track riding for mountain bikers of intermediate and advanced levels.
A 280-metre long canopy walk, which was completed in October 2003 at a cost of S$1.3 million, links the northeastern section of the park to Reflections at Bukit Chandu, a World War II Interpretative Centre. Integrated with the natural environment, the walk takes visitors through the park's secondary forest, Pasir Panjang Nursery and colonial bungalows at nearby Alexandra Park, Bukit Timah Hill and Normanton Park. Information boards are stationed along the walk to inform the public of the park's flora and fauna.
A natural pond measuring approximately 7,600 square metres is located on the eastern face of the park, towards the valley. Turtles and fish, such as the Japanese carp, call this pond home. Footpaths and jogging tracks run through this area, with rest huts scattered throughout.
Kent Ridge Park also has a fitness area comprising 20 different exercise stations- the most in Singapore.
Flora and Fauna
Natural vegetation thrives at Kent Ridge Park, which has been carefully designed to preserve its air of peacefulness and tranquillity.
The park is composed of secondary forest on degraded soil, where tembusu (Fagraea fragans), saga (Adenanthera pavonina), rubber (hevea brasiliensis), wild cinnamon (Cinnamomum iners) and angsana trees (Pterocarpus indicus) grow. Plants like wattle (Acacia auriculiformis), Singapore rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum) and three native species of pitcher plants (Nepenthes gracilis) also grow here.
Besides sunbirds and doves, birds that can be spotted at Kent Ridge Park include the collared kingfisher (halcyon chloris), banded woodpecker (picus miniaceus) and the white-crested laughing thrush (garulux leucolophus). Other creatures like squirrels and fruit bats can also be easily sighted.
Timeline
13 Feb 1942 : Bukit Chandu, a hill in Kent Ridge Park, became the centre of a battle between the Malay Regiment and the Japanese Army.
14 Feb 1942 : The Japanese Army defeated the Malay Regiment.
3 Oct 1952 : Pasir Panjang Park is renamed Kent Ridge Park, after the Duchess and Duke of Kent.
Feb 1995 : National Heritage Board erected a plaque at Carkpark B in memory of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, and gazetted it as one of 11 World War II sites in Singapore.
15 Feb 2002 : Reflections at Bukit Chandu, the World War II Interpretative Centre, was officially opened to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the Malay Regiment in defending Singapore.
October 2003 : Canopy Walk, as installed by the National Parks Board, was completed.
Author
Rachel Chan
References
Koh, T. (2006). Kent Ridge Canopy Walk. Singapore: the encyclopaedia (p.276). Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with the National Heritage Board.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57003 SIN -[HIS])
Lee, S.K., & Chua S.E. (1992). More than a garden city. Singapore: Parks & Recreation Department, Ministry of National Development.
(Call no.: RSING English 333.783 LEE)
National Archives of Singapore. (2009.) Bukit Chandu. Retrieved June 12, 2009, from http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/bukit_chandu/homepage.htm
National Parks Singapore. (2009). Kent Ridge Park. Retrieved June 12, 2009, fromhttp://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=20&Itemid=73
Thangamma, K. (Ed.). (2006). Discover Singapore: Heritage Trails. Singapore: National Heritage Board.
(Call no.: RSING English 915.95704 DIS)
Yap, S.Y., et al. (2004). Fortress Singapore: The Battlefield Guide (4th ed). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia).
(Call no.: RSING English 959.5703 FOR [HIS])
Further Readings
National Archives of Singapore. (2002). Reflections at Bukit Chandu: building on memories/ a heritage project by National Archives [videorecording]. Singapore : National Archives of Singapore.
(Call No.: RSING 940.547252 REF -[WAR])
The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the library for further reading materials on the topic.
