Caring And Loving The Nature – Spending Valentine’s Day On Coney Island!
On 14 February 2016, when the Sun had yet to rise, we woke up at 6am for a special Valentine’s Day out. It was our honour to be invited to join National Youth Council (NYC) and Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) for a guided tour of the newly opened Coney Island. The tour was conducted by cheery NParks volunteers.
Trading our heels for a pair of practical sports shoes, we gathered at the meeting point (Punggol Jetty) at 7:30am. We were warmly welcomed by friendly staff from NYC, OBS, and a sea of OBS Alumni members. Enthusiasm shone in everyone’s faces as we could not wait to start the trial. Most of us were visiting Coney Island Park for the first time.
Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Mr Baey Yam Keng, was also there. He joined us in the trail and encouraged us to contribute ideas to existing environmental education efforts.
We were encouraged to think of how we could expand OBS’ existing efforts to reach out to more youths in its outdoor adventure education programme. Charismatic and passionate, he reached out to every one of us and listened to our opinions on increasing environmental awareness and preservation in Singapore.
“I am pleased to see many young nature-lovers spending the morning of Valentine’s Day here at Coney Island. Youths are always looking for something fresh to interest them and today’s activity is one of such engagements. As youths are the future leaders who would see Singapore through SG100, it is important for them to be aware and proactive in conserving the environment,” enthused Mr Baey.
We started the trial from the West Entrance (enter from Punggol Promenade Nature Walk towards Punggol Point Park). There’s a bicycle bay, shelter, and Casuarina Exploratory upon entering Coney Island.
An NParks volunteer kindly explained to us how Coney Island came to be. The history of the island, also known as Pulau Serangoon, dates back to the 1930s. At that time, it was bought over by the famous Haw Par brothers – Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, who built a beach villa there. The villa fell into shambles after World War II and the island remained uninhabited until 1950, when Indian businessman Ghulam Mahmood took over the island with the intention to turn it into a resort.
Fortunately for us, his plan did not materialise and the island was transformed into a rustic nature park complete with a boardwalk and bird observation points in late 2015.
Lush greenery greeted us the moment we stepped into the park. Varieties of trees stood tall on both sides of the pathway, reminding us of how blessed we are to reside in this tropical region of the world.
An escape to Coney Island is a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life in Singapore. For those who intend to cycle, do note that the park’s pathway can be a little rocky at times. For those intending to walk, do bring along or wear a pair of comfortable shoes.
As we walked deeper, we were told that there are 80 species of birds within this park. Bird watchers are able to catch them early in the morning before the sun rises and at dusk when the birds return to their homes in the park.
Other than bird watching, visitors can also indulge in nature photography, have a picnic, or take a nature walk in Coney Island.
Sheltered by the tall trees of Coney Island and enjoying the gentle breeze by the sea, we participated in the SGfuture session hosted by the organisers. An SGfuture session gives Singaporeans the opportunity to share and co-shape our future.
Exciting ideas such as a dedicated ecological literacy programme, and flora-fauna treasure hunt competition were mooted by participants. The goal was to encourage more youths to celebrate the rich bio-diversity in Singapore.
We ended our journey on the beach (Beach Area C) which is situated past the mangrove forest. A family of monkeys caught sight of us and followed us to the beach while waiting for the opportunity to seize our food and drinks. The monkeys are harmless, and were just scouring for food as it is their nature to do so.
A tip for visitors at Coney Island – hide your food and water bottles unless you wish to start a war with the monkeys. They can be very persistent when it comes to food.
That day, we saw Singapore differently. Coney Island’s beauty and rustic appeal has humbled and inspired us to do our part for Singapore. OBS wishes to educate everyone to do their part to protect nature.
Do not leave our rubbish behind in the park, minimise our impact on nature by keeping ourselves to the designated main trek and live in harmony with the flora and fauna.
In fact, at OBS’ recent Project IsLand-A-Hand, championed by volunteers and staff, they built flotsams on the beaches of Coney Island to prevent rubbish from being washed up onto the island.
Thanks to OBS, NYC and NParks, this is the best Valentine’s Day we ever had. We have learnt more about our country and how we can play a part to be more environmentally-friendly. Do pay Coney Island a visit and remember while you admire the beauty of the park, show your love by reducing the impact on our environment.
Tips for visiting Coney Island Park
- The terrain is rugged at parts and may be unsuitable for young children.
- As there is no lighting in the evenings, the park is only open from 7am to 7pm for safety reasons.
- There is no electricity or piped water on the island. Please bring sufficient water with you when you visit the park.
- Please wear long pants and covered shoes for protection from insects such as sandflies.
- There is a free-roaming Brahman cow that has made the island its home. Please avoid approaching, disturbing, or trying to take close-up photographs of the animal.
- Do keep to the designated trails and appreciate any animals you may see from afar. If you encounter Long-tailed Macaques (a.k.a. monkeys), keep a safe distance and do not feed them.
- Do avoid visiting the park during a storm, or seek shelter immediately if it rains while you are within the park.
- Please remember to take only what you have brought in, and leave nothing behind but footprints.
A few extra tips from DiscoverSG:
- Protect yourself with ample insect repellant
- Phone reception can be quite poor in the park, and you may not get Internet connection all the time. Do plan your trip in advance.
We hope that you will be able to fully immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Coney Island and make memories that will last a lifetime.
