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Garden City Fund
Value-Added Enhancements

Jacob Ballas Children's Garden Waterplay: Creating Joyful Learning Through Play

25 February 2025

The refreshed Jacob Ballas Children's Garden Waterplay, reopened in February 2025 with support from Dr Rosslyn Leong, has tripled in size and transforms environmental education by teaching children aged 2-12 about the water cycle and environmental processes through immersive play experiences.

Young boy playing in a water playground

Reopened in February 2025, the refreshed Jacob Ballas Children's Garden (JBCG) Waterplay transforms how young visitors connect with nature and learn about essential environmental processes through immersive play experiences.

This was made possible with the generous support of Dr Rosslyn Leong.

Project Impact

  • The waterplay area provides outdoor educational spaces that encourage children aged 2 - 12 year old to spend more time in nature whilst learning about important environmental processes through hands-on exploration.

  • The waterplay space was expanded to 500 square metres - more than triple its previous 137.5 square metre size - with enhanced safety and accessibility features.

  • The interactive demonstrations of the hydrological cycle enhanced learning. The new features, such as the mist zones, wading pools, umbrella fountains, and splash zones brings transpiration and rain formation to life.

  • Family amenities were upgraded, with new changing areas, wash zones, additional seating, and improved drainage systems.

Water play area set amidst lush greenery

Creating Lasting Change

  • For Children: The JBCG Waterplay provides an immersive way to understand the water cycle, plant transpiration, and environmental processes through play-based learning

  • For Families: The enhanced amenities and expanded space at JBCG offers another strong option for quality outdoor time together

  • For Singapore: It enhances early childhood environmental education and cultivates the next generation of nature advocates

Two children looking at the hydrology cycle

Educational Play

  • The Waterplay brings complex environmental concepts to life through interactive play.

  • Children can observe 'runoff' in the Splash Zone where small hills and mounds demonstrate water flow, experience 'evaporation' through upward-shooting water jets, and witness 'rain' simulation through umbrella fountains and splash buckets.

  • Interactive signage throughout the area further explains these processes, making learning both enjoyable and engaging for young visitors.

Inspired to support our living legacy?

Contact Garden City Fund at garden_city_fund@nparks.gov.sg to explore how your contribution can advance our City in Nature vision. Together, we are cultivating spaces where children can learn, play, and develop a lifelong connection with nature.

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