SINGAPORE- Some 150 residents in Jurong East gathered on Sunday at a rooftop community garden to celebrate the kampong spirit and to mark Singapore's 50th birthday.

The event, held at Sky Garden at Jurong Central, marked the launch of the SG50 Garden Parties initiative by the South West Community Development Council (CDC) and its partners.

Under the initiative, 50 community gardens will be given a one-time grant of $50,000 in total, gardening aprons and mini potted plants to reach out to 5,000 vulnerable residents and citiens from the pioneer generation.

The initiative is also supported by the National Parks Board and Sumitomo Chemicals Asia.

During the event on Sunday, residents from Jurong East harvested the produce they grew in the 200 sqm rooftop garden while potted plants were handed out to about 20 vulnerable residents and pioneer generation citizens.

Mayor of South West District Low Yen Ling, who was the guest-of-honour, said that the 50 SG50 garden parties are a celebration of Singapore's green culture and heritage.

"Singapore is known as a garden city and more recently, our Botanic Gardens won the status of a Unesco World Heritage site. We are fortunate to inherit a wonderful green legacy from the foresight of Lee Kuan Yew and our pioneers," she added.

The Sky Garden at Jurong Central, located at Jurong East Street 32, is the first community garden built in a HDB multi-storey carpark with an elderly and wheelchair-friendly design. About 35 volunteers are actively involved in maintaining the gardens.

One of them, Madam Hamidah Bujang, 57, helps out at the garden every day. Taking part in community gardening has helped her to know more neighbours living in her block at Jurong East, she said.

"I used to keep to myself and I didn't know many people living near me, but taking part in community gardening has helped me to know many people staying in my block."