Bottle Tree Park hits the deep end of the pond...

View of the 'kelong' over the pond at Bottle Tree Park

Daniel Smith Watercolour on 12" x 9" Saunders Waterford Rough White paper

"Last ditch efforts to save Bottle Tree Park in Yishun have come to nought, as the attraction will close by the end of next month.

The park, which first opened 10 years ago, will finally close its doors after its operator moves out of the leafy surrounds, despite recently putting in a bid to re-develop the area, whose lease expires on Aug 18." - Caroline Khew for MyPaper

I read the above with a tinge of sadness, though it wasn't unexpected. Everything on this space-tight island-nation-city-state runs on the mantra of 'commercial viability' and 'highest bidder'. For a long while, it has been a wonder how this place sustained itself profitably - a piece of land with no entrance fee and charges only for dining at the restaurant (which isn't all that, honestly) and a 'fishing fee' for a chance to fish in the ponds.

Call me a cynic, but I guess I've been proven right, regrettably. The current tenant has since lost its lease in a bidding war to the rights of the land. The future of the land now hangs in the balance: will continue with its current hippie vibe or will we see a brick and mortar colossal, bright shining in the sun with its metal and glass?

It's not rocket science, I suppose.