USA Bus Lines - Do you think that the Singapore Botanic Gardens is for the rich?

Do you think that the Singapore Botanic Gardens is for the rich?

No other parks/ gardens in Singapore is as lushly landscaped and it is free. You will see tai-tais there. Does that mean they pay more tax they get a better garden while we just make do with other parks? The garden is in the middle of the District 10 (just outside CBD). Isn't it paid for by tax-payers and there is no different between different kind of tax-payers? Why a garden that provides free admission and services (3- 4 information desk) to only a small group of people? A playground for them to work-out and use as a public park? Isn't it suppose to be a Botanic Garden which mean more of an attraction and research (think of zoo...etc)? Not a place for tai-ji for rich old folks and expat joggers? It is a public garden and not a place for the rich. Problem is it will remain an "exclusive" garden for many Singaporeans as they will need to drive there or take buses there. Where is the fairness in this? P/S: I do admit it is FREE for all regardless of your social standing or financial standing. But what I am saying is that if you look carefully, it just do not make sense. You get services like free dog poo bags, free poncho if it rain, lots of brochures, free concerts...etc. Do you get all of that in Bishan Park, East Coast Park? It is an attraction, as such it should be chargeable like Botanic Gardens all around the world. Thus no one communities can make it theirs. Come often and you will notice what I mean. I hardly see a lot of Singaporeans there (except these people with means). Would like to see more Malay Singaporeans there, maybe Maciks and aunties doing kebaya-taiji there?

Public Comments

It's free for EVERYONE to visit and enjoy. Not just for the rich. Since when did it become sooo "exclusive"? Personally to me, it's still a piece of nature touched by human hands. I'd rather go overseas to see something more natural. Now THAT's exclusive and only possible if you can afford it. But the Botanic Gardens is free, man.. and it just takes some minutes to travel by car or bus. I go there by bus, it's not a problem so why the fuss? Whether you're rich or poor, no one's gonna say you're not supposed to visit or have a picnic there or tai-chi or jog.
I am very sorry to hear how you feel about the location of this lovely botanical gardens. Here in Washington state in the U.S. as I write this I am looking at a framed photograph of the gardens with my father sitting on a bench. He enjoyed his visit to the garden very much last year. I understand how you feel. Here in the U.S. there is a deliberate attempt in many wealthy communities to even prevent bus service so that poorer people cannot visit those communities. The divide between rich and poor is growing at an alarming rate.
Would that make Bishan Park for the rich as well? You need to take buses there if you don't drive. Come to think about it, that means East Coast Park, Sembawang Park, Ang Mo Kio West Park. Wow, we do have a lot of parks for the rich, don't we. How else do you go if you don't drive or take a bus?
that why they are building an MRT station there with shelter
Ganbaruyama, Seems you got the whole idea wrong man! BOTANIC GARDEN is FREE for all. Why it is in District 10 was due to historial value when the founder of bontanic garden establish it to research on tropical flower and plants. The reason you see a lot of rich old folks and expat joggers around is because of the surrounding area is fill with condos and private estates. Another reason which I can think of are the laziness of Singaporeans (I'm one of them) - they are lazy to exercise, let alone travel all the way to botanical garden. If you go to labroarer park (sorry, dun noe how to spell), sebangwang park or bishan park, you will notice that it is quite deserted except for a few people strolling around the area. Conclusion: You are definately free and welcome into the botanical garden for a walk. PS: You can consider going to the Orchid Garden for a walk but the admission fee is around $3 per adult. Worth it!
Parks and Gardens are for public to use, so it doesn't make sense to me that you said that Botanic Garden is for rich. The Botanic Garden is built in CBD area and its surrounded by private housing estates, but it doesn't mean is accessible only to the riches. Some more, there will be a MRT Station few years later at the corner of Botanic Garden (under circle line) and its only a few bus stops away from the current Orchard MRT Station, which is on the North-South line. So its not that hard to access anyway. And if the park is really only for the rich, then why there is bus serving to that destination? The rich do not need to take bus anyway, as they have cars or they can always hail a taxi to the destination any time. So what you say doesn't make any sense to me at all.
Singapore Botanic Gardens is definitely a public park and not just for the rich. It's for anybody who borders to make an effort to go there, like any other parks in Singapore. We have many parks in various parts of Singapore. As long as u don't live within walking distances of these parks, u will need to take some form of transport there, be it buses, mrt or drive your own vehicle. The Singapore Botanic Gardens happens to be located in Dsitrict 10 where more expats and the rich may be living in that area, but u will notice that there r also a lot of locals (rich or poor) visiting this garden. Also, because of its historical reason, it has become a place of interest for visitors to Singapore. For this reason, u tend to c more foreigners and tourists(who may be more well-dressed, hence deem as rich) in this garden as well. How can u tell that those people visiting the other parks and gardens in Singapore r not rich? If u make an effort to visit the other parks and nature reserves in Singapore, u will notice foreigners' presence as well.
I have a total different view with you. It's free admission, thus it's definitely not for the rich. The garden had been at that location since it's built, thus it's not meant to be built at ditrict 10, where most of the rich are staying. I had been there no less than 20 times. It have various species of plants, and the price of foods of the food court there is also very reasonable. It's definitely a perfect place for a whole family outing, without spending much. And I really can't see how the garden was built for the rich.
No,its free for every1 to go.Maybe they look rich but actually not that rich.You might want to look closer. As it is free,it is fair for every1 to go,right!!!?The prob is,maybe you only look at the rich,never look at the others! If what you said was true,then okay.But nobody restrict them from coming,its they dowant to come themselves.Nobody said they cannot come,or the staff,did you see them put up a sign outside and the sign saying "FOR RICH PEOPLE-NO POOR PEOPLE ALLOWED"? By saying this"Problem is it will remain an "exclusive" garden for many Singaporeans as they will need to drive there or take buses there",isn't it the same or better than the Zoo as its FREE?You also need to drive to the Zoo!It is worth the ride there as it is nice for people to go. The next time,think before you try to write anything.All my advice to you.
No SBG is not for the rich as we all know that it is free to enter the garden. The fact that majority of the patrons appear to be from the more well to do is probably due to the location of the garden. Citizens with a more humble background who lives in heartlands such as Yishun, Tampines or Jurong would have to travel an average of more than 45mins to just reach the garden, just the journey itself would be daunting to the not-so-rich old folks. Compare this to the expat (n rich tai tais n rich old folks) who lives just by nassim road or tanglin road. The garden is in no way "exclusive" to the rich, it's more like a privilege for the residents of district 10. Residents of heartland do have a have a fair share of Nparks maintained parks and gardens.
I do not quite agree that it is solely for the rich since all people can go there. But as a nature lover, I personally find that the management of the gardens is weird. If you are talking about environment conservation, I find it weird why the garden is giving out free plastic bags, brochures, ponchos…etc. Isn’t that taxpayers $$ also? Think they should just charge everyone $5 or $10 for admission. Be like the world- renowned Kew Botanic Gardens. Have trams and more displays. Of course have special tickets for the lower-income via NTUC or CDC. Since most common Singaporeans will not go to the garden normally, it will only impact those small numbers who go there everyday and the tourists. Hard pill to shallow but NParks need to rethink its policy considering it is spending $100 million but only earning $10 million. I bet they spend more on botanics than your neighbourhood park. If all govt agency like that, we will be paying more GST…
Well we HDB ppl where got time to go there? We need to work mah. Best way if you ask me? Put an admission charge like $5. Then these people will disappear to other places. Its a fair deal as tourists will need to pay to enter and $5 to $10 is fair. It will not affect common ppl like us one.