The facilities at Downtown East will remain open throughout its five-year renovation period.

The NTUC Club, which runs the resort in Pasir Ris, assured visitors of this at its groundbreaking ceremony on Monday. The event was attended by NTUC Club chairman Lim Swee Say, NTUC Club chief executive Yeo Khee Leng and chief operating officer Lim Eng Lee.

Downtown East will go through a $200 million refurbishment, which was announced last July.

The Costa Sands Resort, which provides overnight accommodation at Downtown East, will be expanded to house 400 rooms, and water park Wild Wild Wet will double in size to 4ha. Enhancements will also be made to the convention and exhibition facilities. New shops and dining outlets will also be added to the refurbished Downtown East.