SINGAPORE - The Marina Bay waterfront is now home to the first community club (CC) here offering water and adventure sports.
The new "specialist CC", PAssion WaVe @ Marina Bay, was officially opened on Sunday morning by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean at an event attended by more than 2,000 people.
Said DPM Teo, who first mooted the idea for the CC in 2007, "I like the whole idea of making use of themed community spaces, particularly for water. The community can make very good use of the water resources we have. I hope we have more themed activity centres where residents who share the same interests can come together."
Located at Rhu Cross by the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, the CC will offer water-based activities such as pedal boating and bell boating, alongside niche lifestyle classes such as urban gardening and coffee appreciation, and CC staples such as zumba and line dancing.
It is the eighth of the People's Association (PA) Water-Venture outlets offering water-based activities islandwide. Plans are underway to upgrade the other outlets to specialist CCs next year, starting with East Coast and Pasir Ris.
The 3,756 sq m centre broke ground in 2012. It has a Building and Construction Authority Green Mark Platinum Award for its sustainable design and low environmental impact.
More than 20,000 people are expected to benefit from the new CC, which aims to serve residents in the Mountbatten and Jalan Besar constituencies.
PA chief executive director Ang Hak Seng said that while existing Water-Venture outlets draw younger, more adventurous crowds, the new CC is also pitched at senior citizens and the physically disadvantaged.
For instance, Water-Venture members aged 55 and above can rent a pedal boat for just $2 an hour. The CC will also have boats for those with disabilities.
Kolam Ayer resident Madeline Lee welcomed the focus on waterfront activities at the new CC.
Said the 50-year-old secretary, who has been passionate about kayaking for the past 20 years, "It's more convenient for me to come here by bus than go to Changi. It's good that there's a designated facility here for this."
