SINGAPORE - Marine Cove at East Coast Park reopens from this week, after being in development for two years.

The National Parks Board (NParks) promises facilities that are family-friendly, great views of the sea and a 3,500 sqm playground with a marine theme.

Here's more about the revamped park recreation area.

1. Mega play area for the kids

The highlight of the playground is a 8m tower modelled after a lighthouse. It comes with many play elements that include three slides, a rope bridge and climbing net courses.

There are also inclusive play equipment to encourage children of different abilities to play together. They are designed to let children spin, rock and swing to improve muscle control.

2. Macs is back

Those hankering for the return of a 30-year-old icon can look forward to gourmet food options alongside the usual fast-food fare when McDonald's reopens on July 2.

The beach-style 8,439 sq ft outlet will act as a test kitchen to incubate new products, and feature a salad bar, a dessert bar and a trio of premium burgers like the Spicy Chicken with Apple Slaw.

3. More diverse food options

While the children play, parents can chill at the new F&B outlets opening progressively from Tuesday (June 28).

Family restaurant Babalicious will serve Peranakan dishes together with Hainanese chicken rice, while visitors can tuck into kopi and steamed kaya butter bread at Hill Street Coffee Shop. There is also halal-certified My Briyani House and a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlet.

More details on their opening promotions here.

4. No more parking woes?

Located at East Coast Park Area C, Marine Cove is accessible via East Coast Park Service Road. Its two carparks have been reconfigured to increase the number of parking lots.

Carparks C2 and C3 will have a total of around 430 car parking lots - up from about 300 previously.

5. Remember Marine Cove's previous incarnation?

Singaporeans who grew up in the 1980s will remember Marine Cove's former life as the East Coast Recreation Centre.

It was developed by Mr George Wuu in 1980 and had replicas of nostalgic landmarks like the old Lido Theatre and Odeon cinemas.

Marine Cove was then sold to Rock Productions, the business arm of New Creation Church which also manages The Rock Auditorium and The Star Vista, a shopping mall in Buona Vista.

It bought the recreation and restaurant cluster from George Wuu in 2002 for about $10 million and renamed it Marine Cove.

The land, managed by the Singapore Land Authority, was handed back to NParks in 2011 and the area closed in 2012 for redevelopment.