SLA Marks 25 Years with a Nationwide Treasure Hunt

Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has launched a self‑guided Rediscovery Trail featuring 25 state properties, inviting locals to explore the island’s built heritage at their own pace. The trail, part of the statutory board’s 25th‑anniversary celebrations, runs from 14 July to 13 September and covers sites ranging from colonial bungalows and decommissioned schools to parks and offshore islands.

Among the more surprising stops is ARK Sports Village in Bukit Panjang, where pickleball and futsal courts operate under the cover of a flyover, and City Sprouts Bedok, a former community centre now housing a cat garden with mental‑wellness workshops, a badminton academy and a Turkish eatery. Other highlights include the indie arts enclave at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace – originally a police barracks – and the Danish Seamen’s Church on Mount Faber, once a private residence built by descendants of Tan Tock Seng.

Trail‑goers access the sites through a mobile web‑based app that organises them by region or theme, such as Cafe Hoppers, History Buffs or Sporty Types. Over 140 tenant promotions are available, including a 50% discount on an aperitif at Chip Bee Bistro and a free photo booth at Lau Pa Sat, unlocked by flashing the check‑in screen. Complementing the trail, the “Our Spaces, Our Stories” campaign encourages the public to share personal memories linked to any of the featured properties.

How Dead Spaces Are Transformed into Vibrant Community Hubs

From Flyover Dead Space to All‑Weather Sports Hub

The ARK Sports Village exemplifies how underused state land can be repurposed into high‑demand community assets. What was once an idle plot beneath the Gali Batu Flyover now shelters five pickleball courts, four futsal pitches and a gym, fully booked even on weekday evenings. The viaduct acts as a permanent canopy, making the facility usable regardless of weather, while its location next to a park connector and a housing estate embeds it into the daily rhythms of residents.

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Cat Gardens and Mental Wellness in a Former Community Centre

City Sprouts Bedok shows how a defunct Kampong Chai Chee Community Centre can become an intergenerational “third space.” The site combines a butterfly garden, an indoor playground with a reading node, a cat adoption area offering mental‑wellness programmes, and a budget‑conscious Turkish restaurant. Owner Roslan Ahmad deliberately keeps kebab prices between S$8.90 and S$16.90 while offering free drinks to Grab drivers, demonstrating that commercial viability can coexist with community‑minded operations.

SLA’s ‘Limited Land, Unlimited Space’ in Practice

As steward of Singapore’s idle state assets, SLA activates properties that the government has not yet earmarked for immediate development. The 25 sites on the trail are a curated showcase of this strategy: historic structures get new life as dining, retail or creative hubs, while infrastructure voids become lively sporting grounds. The trail itself is designed without fixed routes, letting visitors piece together their own experience and, in the process, deepen their connection to places they might otherwise overlook.

How to Make the Most of the Rediscovery Trail

For anyone planning to follow the trail:

  • Use the Rediscovery Trail mobile webapp to browse sites by region or theme and to check in at each location – the check‑in screen unlocks over 140 discounts from on‑site tenants.
  • Key deals include 50% off the Arveau aperitif at Chip Bee Bistro (normally S$68) and a free photo booth session at Lau Pa Sat; most other discounts are 10% off dining, retail or sports facilities.
  • The trail ends on 13 September, so you can pace visits over weekends or even complete a single themed route in a day.
  • Cyclists like Bob Lee have combined stops along the Rail Corridor and Mount Faber – the webapp does not prescribe a sequence, making it flexible for walkers, riders or public‑transport users.
  • If a site sparks a memory, submit your story through the “Our Spaces, Our Stories” campaign to contribute to the collective heritage narrative.