Bidadari Park: Singapore's Former Cemetery Transformed into Bird Sanctuary

Singapore's Bidadari Park, a former Christian, Muslim, and Hindu cemetery closed in 1972, has been transformed into a 13-hectare public park and bird sanctuary. Designed by Henning Larsen Architects and implemented between 2016 and 2024, the park preserves 84% of mature trees and features 170 native plant species. It hosts 193 wildlife species and is one of only two woodland habitats for migratory birds on the island. The park includes passive zones for wildlife and active zones for visitors, with 6 km of trails, birdwatching points, and a memorial garden with original gates and 21 historical tombstones. The 1.8-hectare Alkaff Lake serves as a multifunctional drainage infrastructure, capturing over 90% of stormwater and holding up to 40,000 cubic meters of rainwater. The project was announced in 2013 by then-Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan, alongside plans for 10,000 new homes in the broader Bidadari area (over 90 hectares).