New Magical Bridge Playground at Sun Plaza Park features Singapore’s first slide for wheelchair users

-       0.38-hectare thoughtfully designed playground that welcomes guests of all ages and abilities to play, move and connect together

-       Supported by the Magical Bridge Foundation with a US$3 million (S$3.9 million) contribution to the Garden City Fund, and designed in close collaboration with the special needs community, schools and community partners 

17 Jun 2026 – The National Parks Board (NParks) opened the new Magical Bridge Playground at Sun Plaza Park in Tampines today. The 0.38-hectare playground, the size of about half a football field, features thoughtfully designed equipment and spaces that welcome guests of all ages and abilities to play, interact and have fun together. This includes Singapore’s first slide designed with wheelchair users in mind. 

The playground was made possible through a US$3 million (approx. S$3.9 million) donation by Magical Bridge Foundation through its donors, Amanda and Vince Steckler to the Garden City Fund, NParks’ registered charity and Institution of Public Character (IPC). The Magical Bridge Foundation is a US-based nonprofit which is known for their innovative and inclusive playground designs. There are currently 14 Magical Bridge Playgrounds around the world. This is their second project in Singapore, and the first collaboration with NParks. 

A playground where everyone belongs

The new Magical Bridge Playground at Sun Plaza Park is designed to ensure that play is enjoyed by everyone. Its inclusive design incorporates wheelchair-accessible equipment, barrier-free routes, as well as thoughtful additions for those with autism. It also offers welcoming spaces to ensure guests of all ages and abilities can join in. 

Applying over 15 years of research, Magical Bridge intentionally selected contrasting colours for the equipment and surfaces to better support visitors with low vision. Hideaway Huts^TM offer quieter spaces for those who want a moment away from active play, while a sensory garden with raised planters featuring herbs that are safe to touch and smell provides a rich tactile and olfactory experience for visitors of all ages. An amphitheatre within the playground provides a space for gatherings, and shared activities and programmes will be organised for the community to enjoy together. 

The playground is organised into four zones, inspired by the different modes of seed dispersal: self, wind, water and animal dispersal. The planting palette across the playground reflects this theme, with each zone planted with species that are dispersed by a specific method. These include Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis), which are self-dispersed; Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) and Trumpet trees (Tabebuia rosea), which are dispersed by wind; Dungun (Heritiera littoralis) and Pianggu trees (Horsfieldia irya) which are dispersed by water, and Nutmeg trees (Myristica fragrans) and Red Leea (Leea rubra), which are dispersed by animals.

More details on the inclusive equipment and plants featured in the playground can be found in the Annex.

Designed with and for the community

In designing the playground, NParks worked with the Magical Bridge Foundation, tapping on their expertise of building innovative inclusive playgrounds. Key stakeholders within the neighbourhood of Tampines, including SPD Singapore @ Tampines, Metta School, Thye Hua Kwan EIPIC Centre @ Tampines, and M.Y. World @ Tampines North were also consulted during the design process. Their inputs helped to ensure the playground would serve the needs of the local community, including people who are often left out of traditional play spaces. 

A Kindness Wall^TM, an iconic feature of all Magical Bridge Foundation playgrounds around the world, can also be found within the playground at Sun Plaza Park. The Wall celebrates the voices and creativity of the community and features quotes contributed by members and staff from Thye Hua Kwan EIPIC Centre @ Tampines, as well as artwork by The Art Faculty, a social enterprise by Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), as a reminder of the spirit of inclusion that the playground embodies.

"Magical Bridge playgrounds are designed to be places where no one is left on the sidelines," said Ms Olenka Villarreal, Founder and CEO of Magical Bridge Foundation. "We are deeply honoured to bring this vision to Singapore, and have enjoyed working alongside the local disability community to create a space that truly reflects their needs, their voices, and their joy. We hope this playground becomes a beloved gathering place for families across Singapore, and that many magical moments await for everyone that visits!”  

Every Magical Bridge playground is supported by a Kindness Ambassador Program, where community members work alongside park leadership to welcome guests, model inclusive behaviour, and support events that bring people together. HP is proud to be the inaugural sponsor of the program's first year. Reflecting the spirit of the initiative, Greater Asia Region CFO Sherine Lee says, “Inclusion is not about making room for someone, it is about creating a place where everyone belongs.”

“My husband Vince and I first encountered the Magical Bridge Foundation’s award-winning work while living in Palo Alto, California, and were inspired to build this vision of inclusive play for all back to my hometown of Singapore,” said Mrs Amanda Steckler. “I am excited to see the Magical Bridge Playground finally come to life and hope that it will be a cornerstone for the community to gather and build bonds for years to come.” 

Building an inclusive City in Nature

The Magical Bridge Playground at Sun Plaza Park reflects NParks' commitment to creating parks and green spaces that are welcoming and accessible to all. NParks will continue to work with community partners, donors, and the public to develop inclusive spaces across Singapore's parks and nature areas, so that every visitor, regardless of age or ability, can enjoy the benefits of nature and play.

 Organisations and individuals interested in supporting NParks' inclusive efforts in our parks can contact the Garden City Fund, our registered charity and IPC, at garden_city_fund@nparks.gov.sg.

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