SINGAPORE will soon have its own 'Central Park', complete with boardwalks, hiking trails, a canopy walkway and an observation tower.

These facilities are to be built by next year in the central catchment area, which stretches between the Upper Seletar and MacRitchie reservoir parks, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday.

Four waterfront parks and five urban parks are also planned, and six existing parks are to be extended, providing an additional 1,000 ha of greenery to enjoy.

These are part of the URA's programme over the next 15 years.

The moves received the backing last November from three groups that had been set up to study the URA's proposals on enhancing identity and creating more greenery in Singapore.

Most of their recommendations have been accepted and the URA has started work on some projects. It plans, for example, to complete a wilderness park in Coney Island within five years.

People who like dining outdoors can also look forward to more alfresco dining facilities in Coronation Road and Thomson Village, for instance.

Government-owned black-and-white bungalows in Morse Road, Alexandra Park, Mount Faber and Bukit Chermin are also to be let out for commercial uses such as spas, museums, restaurants and bed-and-breakfast places.

The URA will also work to conserve more than 600 buildings in the Balestier, Jalan Besar, Tanjong Katong and Joo Chiat areas.

In these areas, more commercial activities will also be allowed to keep the places abuzz with activity.

The URA did not take on all the ideas suggested.

For example, one group was against building a scenic road and eco-lodges in the Chestnut area, located at the western fringe of the central catchment area.

While the URA agreed to drop the scenic road proposal, it still wants to introduce eco-lodging.

It also said it would continue to explore how to implement all these ideas.

All plans that involve land use will be incorporated into its master plan, which will guide land-use planning for the next 15 years. The URA hopes to gazette this master plan in November.