Coney Island, Singapore
{{Short description|Island in northeastern Singapore}}
{{Use Singapore English|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Coney Island
实龙岗岛 Shílónggāngdǎo
செராங்கூன் தீவு
| native_name = Pulau Serangoon
| native_name_link = Malay language
| image_name = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Coney Island Sign.jpg
| photo2a = Coney Island 1.jpg
| photo2b = Coney Island 2.jpg
| size = 280
| spacing = 2
| color = transparentz
| border = 0
}}
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| map = Singapore
| map_caption = Location of Coney Island within Singapore
| label = Coney Island
| label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|1|24|34.1|N|103|55|18|E|display=inline,title}}
| etymology =
| location = Southeast Asia
| archipelago = Malay Archipelago
| area_km2 = 1.33
| highest_mount =
| country = {{flag|Singapore}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = Region
| country_admin_divisions = North-East Region
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Planning Area
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Punggol
----
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = CDC
| country_admin_divisions_2 = * North East CDC
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = Town council
| country_admin_divisions_3 = * Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council
| country_admin_divisions_title_4 = Constituency
| country_admin_divisions_4 = * Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
| country_leader_title = Member of Parliament
| country_leader_name = * Janil Puthucheary
| demonym =
| population = 0
| population_as_of = 2015
| ethnic_groups =
| website = [https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/coney-island-parks Coney Island on NParks]
}}
File:Causeway to Coney Island 180622.jpg
Coney Island, alternatively known as Pulau Serangoon, is a 133-hectare island located off the northeastern coast of Singapore within the town of Punggol, between Pulau Ubin to its northeast and the mainland to its southwest.[http://www.citypopulation.de/php/singapore-admin.php?adm2id=30301 City Population - statistics, maps and charts | Coney Island]{{Cite web |url=http://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/population_and_population_structure/population2015-map1.pdf |title=[[Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore)#Departments & Statutory boards{{!}}Singapore Department of Statistics]] - Planning Areas/Subzones in Singapore (Year 2015) |access-date=11 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013413/http://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/population_and_population_structure/population2015-map1.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Land reclamation works were carried out on the island from 1975 to the 1990s, as there were plans to build residential buildings on the southern part of the island. The works narrowed the channel between Punggol and the island to 100m.Singapore. Parliament. [http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=4826189 Parliamentary debates: Official report.] (28 July 1997). Estimates of expenditure for the financial year 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 (Vol. 67). Singapore: [s.n.], col. 1123. (Call no.: RSING 328.5957 SIN); Tan, H. Y. (31 January 2007). Retrieved 15 August 2016. Still, in spite of this small distance, motor launches had to be specially hired to reach the island until the opening of Coney Island Park, linked to the main island by two bridges on its western and eastern ends.
History
Formerly known as Pulau Serangoon (English: Serangoon Island), the island was once owned by entrepreneur siblings Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, before being sold to an Indian businessman, Ghulam Mahmood, in 1950 with the intention of turning the island into a resort modelled after the amusement area at Coney Island, New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.littledayout.com/2015/10/13/ten-things-you-need-to-know-before-visiting-coney-island-park/|title=Ten Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Coney Island Park - Little Day Out|date=13 October 2015}}
The land reclamation works begun in 1975, increasing the area of the island from {{convert|32|hectare|km2}} to {{convert|62|hectare|km2}}.[http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19740311-1.2.31.aspx $14.5m holiday resort plan for Coney Island.] (11 March 1974). The Straits Times, p. 4. (Retrieved from NewspaperSG). Retrieved 15 August 2016. Further land reclamation works were carried out during the 1990s with plans to build a 50-hectare park together with the development of Punggol New Town.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said that under the Master Plan, a part of Coney Island was zoned for residential, sport and recreational use but as the land is not immediately required for development, a part of Coney Island would be kept as an interim park for the time being. The rest of the island was zoned for park use.{{cite web|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/coney-island-open-public-2015| title = Coney Island to open to public in 2015|access-date=2014-02-03|year=2014|work=Lip Kok Wai|publisher=TODAY}} On 10 October 2015, Coney Island Park opened to the public, with a beach stretching {{convert|2|km|0|abbr=on}} and a {{convert|2.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} long path that is part of the park connector network. The offshore island of Pulau Serangoon (Coney Island), was formerly part of the Changi SMC from 1951 to 1997, then subsumed into East Coast GRC (Siglap division) from 1997 to 2015 before transferring to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC after the growth of Punggol.
Activities and facilities
Coney Island is also a popular place for jet skiing and camping.{{cite web
|year=2004
|title=Islands around Singapore
|publisher=Thinkquest
|url=http://library.thinkquest.org/04apr/00793/Islandtext/Island%20Facts.htm
|access-date=2006-11-28
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112080818/http://library.thinkquest.org/04apr/00793/Islandtext/Island%20Facts.htm
|archive-date=2007-01-12
}} However, this has contributed to the beaches being polluted by litter such as discarded cans, instant noodle packets and bottles.{{cite web |year=1991 |title=Beaches or the dumps? |url=https://it-recycle.uk/beaches-or-the-dumps/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2006-11-28 |newspaper=The Straits Times}}
=Coney Island Park=
Managed by the National Parks Board, the {{convert|81|hectare|km2}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/coney-island-park|title=Coney Island Park|publisher=National Parks Board|access-date=February 8, 2021}} nature park is home to a wide variety of habitats, including coastal forests, grasslands and mangroves. The park was officially opened by the Transport Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for Infrastructure, Khaw Boon Wan on 10 October 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-nature-park-opens-on/2183296.html|title=New nature park opens on Coney Island|publisher=Channel News Asia|date=15 October 2015|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106035251/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-nature-park-opens-on/2183296.html|url-status=dead}} During its first year of operation, a free-ranging Brahman cow was frequently sighted in the area.{{cite news|title=Coney Island: The life and death of a lonely Singapore cow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37640549|access-date=16 October 2016|work=BBC News|date=16 October 2016}}{{cite news|title=Coney Island cow dies|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/coney-island-cow-dies/3200104.html|access-date=16 October 2016|work=Channel NewsAsia|archive-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106035209/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/coney-island-cow-dies/3200104.html|url-status=dead}}
=Scouting=
{{main article|The Singapore Scout Association#Bid for 23rd World Scout Jamboree{{!}}Bid for 23rd World Scout Jamboree}}
The island was proposed as the main venue to host the 23rd World Scout Jamboree, as part of a defeated bid by the Singapore Scout Association.{{cite AV media | date = 11 July 2008 | title = Singapore bids for World Scout Jamboree 2015 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJRZH5rtUU4 | access-date = 19 July 2015 | location = Coney Island, Singapore | publisher = The Singapore Scout Association|via=YouTube}}
References
{{reflist}}
Notes
- Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2004), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, {{ISBN|981-210-364-3}}
{{Punggol|state=collapsed}}
{{Islands of Singapore}}
{{Parks in Singapore}}
Category:North-Eastern Islands
Category:Tourist attractions in North-East Region, Singapore