716 Bedok Reservoir Road

[Rosetta Ockman]

Thereservoir was first announced in 1980 as part of a water supply scheme. It was converted from a sand quarry that was used by the Housing and Development Board (HDB).[1][2] Construction of the reservoir began in 1983, with the construction of a deep pumping station and a perimeter road.[3] The reservoir was completed in June 1985, and it began operations later that year.[4]

The Bedok Reservoir Park was developed around the reservoir. The park is equipped with a jogging track, a children's playground, fitness stations and open fields. The park is popular for outdoor activities like inline skating, cycling, fishing and jogging. Jog A Walk Activities are held regularly at the park by schools and organisations.

The park has six venues that can be booked for private events: the Floating Deck (area of 1,320 sq.m, capacity of up to 240 people.), Activity Lawn (area of 3600 sq m, capacity of up to 2,000 persons), Jogging Track (4.3 kilometres long), Reservoir Vista (area of 3,600 sq.m, capacity of up to 2,000 persons), Reservoir Lawn (area of 13,200 sq. m, capacity of up to 5000 persons) and Viewing Gallery (area of 432 sq.m, capacity of up to 150 persons). The park is accessible via Bedok Reservoir Road.[5] The current tenants are Forest Adventure and WAWAWA - Bistro by The Reservoir.[6] The park has been designated with the code 9V-0004 by the international Parks On The Air award program, and so is regularly 'activated' by Amateur Radio operators using portable equipment.

The Launch of Water Sports Activity was held on 17 October 2004. It marked the first time water activities could be held in a local reservoir. The Guest of Honour, George Yeo (former Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP for Aljunied GRC) flagged off canoe racing during the event.

The Wakeboard World Cup Singapore 2007 was held on 22 and 23 September 2007 during the Singapore leg of the World Cup Series. It stopped at Russia and Ireland first before ending at Qatar. It was organised by the Singapore Waterski & Wakeboard Federation.

In September 2014, a Temasek Polytechnic student was practicing kayaking in Bedok Reservoir when his boat capsized, making him fall into the water. Immediately after falling into the water, he felt fish biting his feet. He then swam to a nearby pontoon and had gaping cuts around his toes on his right foot after reaching the pontoon. Biologists claimed that the cuts could be caused by attacks from aggressive turtles or fish in the reservoir. However, more attacks of the same kind were reported over the next three months. As a result, sporting and recreational activities were suspended at Bedok Reservoir from 17 December 2014 to 16 January 2015. During the suspension, several types of predatory fish not indigenous to Singapore were caught, including African walking catfish, peacock bass, tarpon, armoured sucker catfish and giant snakehead. As the invasive fish species were not native to Singapore, they were likely illegally released into the reservoir. The government has issued advisories to those entering the waters, and severe fines and penalties have been imposed for those releasing fish here.[8][9]

3a8082e126