Did you know that there was once a zoo in Punggol? This heritage is captured in the Punggol Point Crown playgrounds – where there are multiple animal-themed areas for kids to play amongst tigers, tapirs and more.
Punggol’s Animal Connection: William Lawrence Soma Basapa & The Punggol Zoo
Punggol Point Crown is located at the end of Punggol Road next to Punggol Point Park. Just a stone’s throw away from the shoreline, it is one of several estates at Punggol Point along with Punggol Point Cove and Punggol Point Woods, and located just a short distance away from Punggol Coast Mall.
Take a walk around Punggol Point Crown and you will discover a variety of interesting animal-themed playgrounds, each reflecting a different habitat and environment.
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If you are wondering about the connection between the animals and Punggol, it is because of one man – William Lawrence Soma Basapa.
William Lawrence Soma Basapa (1893-1943) was a trustee of the Estate of H. Somapah, his father. Known in Singapore as the “Animal Man”, William’s interest was in collecting animals and he even had a pet Bengal tiger named Apay.
His collection eventually grew so large that he opened the first public zoo in Singapore in – you guessed it – Punggol. It was called the “Punggol Zoo” or “Singapore Zoo” (yes, before the one in Mandai) and was a major attraction from 1928 till the start of World War II. The admission fee was just 40 cents.
Punggol Point Crown Playgrounds
This story about Punggol past and its zoo is captured in the Punggol Point Crown Playgrounds.
These various playgrounds, each based on a different habitat and featuring animals that you have come across at the Punggol Zoo, are the work of playground provider CT-Art Creation together with landscape architect Stephen Caffyn Landscape Design. Kids can enjoy playing at them and take the opportunity to remember the interesting story about Punggol and William Lawrence Soma Basapa.
Forest Floor Habitat Playground (Block 436A)
In front of Block 436A, you will find a playground inspired by the forest floor habitat with swings at one end and a banyan tree play structure with a bright yellow slide at the other. The tree trunk play structure echos the natural banyan trees nearby.
Wander around and you will come across a tiger perched on top of the tree branch. This is a tribute to Basapa’s pet tiger Apay.
Tropical Forest Habitat Playground (Block 435B)
Over at Block 435B, there is another Punggol Point Crown playground, suitable for younger children. Amidst the play structure with its canopy, you will see cut outs of forest-dwelling mammals. This includes the Malayan Tapir, one of the animals at Basapa’s zoo, standing just beside a balancing log.
Venture to the other side and there is a sun bear too.
Savannah Grassland Habitat Playground (Blk 438C)
What would a trip to a zoo-inspired playground be without seeing the big animals? At the Savannah Grassland Habitat play area, kids can play amongst cutouts of a giraffe, zebra and elephant.
There is a basket swing along with a rope web strung out between some rock formations.
Kids can also tackle the wooden climbing frames, making their way across rope obstacles and stepping stones before enjoying a yellow slide.
Canopy Level Forest Habitat Playground
Find the rooftop playground inspired by life in the forest canopy. Kids can sway back and forth, up and down on see-saws or have fun on the play structure decorated with creeper plant motifs while an orang utan and other primates look on from above.
Shoreline Water Edge Playground (Blk 436B)
As you head closer towards the coast and Punggol Point Park, you will find the Shoreline Water Edge playground.
Kids can play amongst tall poles set up on a mound that resembles the reeds you would find along the shoreline. A wooden hut reminds us of a kelong set over the water.
Wader birds are perched on top of poles looking down while kids enjoy some play time.
What Else is at Punggol Point Crown?
Besides the various Punggol Point Crown playgrounds, there are also interesting fitness areas designed for adults to use.
The animal-inspired theming also carries through to the rest of the landscaping around the estate.
As you wander around, you will find several animal sculptures – almost as if you are observing them in an enclosure while at a zoo.
There are also little seating alcoves, each of them featuring different animal motifs.
Look out for the compass roses too. These include markings to “Upper Serangoon Road” which we guess is a reference to Basapa’s estate.
Fun at the Punggol Point Crown Playgrounds
The Punggol Point Crown playgrounds happily blend together heritage with play. It is also easily accessible for those who may be visiting Punggol Settlement and Punggol Point Park.
For even more fun in Punggol, read our other story about the best Punggol Playgrounds.
