Transforming Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut into a family-friendly green oasis and lifestyle destination
- New park envisioned to include features such as an orchid-themed park and flexible space for recreational activities.
- Exploring building two pocket parks along Orchard Road, potentially at Somerset and Handy Road
12 Aug 2026 – The National Parks Board (NParks) shared updates to the plans to rejuvenate the Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut area today. These include possible features such as an orchid-themed park and an activity promenade along a pedestrianised stretch of Orchard Road. The updates were announced by Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs Mr Alvin Tan at an event held at Temasek Shophouse earlier today.
The current Istana Park will be merged with the existing Dhoby Ghaut Green and Penang Road Open Space, along with the 500-metre section of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road that will be pedestrianised, to create a new park more than three times its current size. The significantly larger space will allow for a refresh of the area with new attractions and offerings, which could include more family-friendly features, greenery and flexible spaces for activities and programmes. These are part of the Orchard Road Rejuvenation plans unveiled by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and NParks, to transform Orchard Road into a green oasis in the heart of the city and to ‘Bring Back the Orchard’.
More details on the timeline for the Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut developments will be shared by NParks when ready.
Rejuvenated Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut area
The rejuvenated area is planned to be organised into three main sections: Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza, Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut Green.
Transforming Orchard Road into a green oasis
As part of Singapore's vision to become a City in Nature, a key focus of Orchard Road's rejuvenation is the seamless integration of greenery into its built environment. Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza, for instance, are envisioned as spaces planted with a diverse range of orchid species and hybrids, showcasing orchids’ remarkable adaptability across different growing environments. We are also exploring the implementation of two pocket parks at Handy Road and another at Somerset that will pay homage to Orchard Road's heritage as an orchard plantation, featuring fruit trees, spices, and herbs that echo the plantation landscape that once defined the area.
Honouring Singapore’s heritage and legacy
The redeveloped Istana Park will retain its ceremonial significance as the entryway to the Istana, with the possibility of incorporating a pedestrianised section of Orchard Road as a new Ceremonial Driveway flanked by flagpoles and mature trees leading directly to the Istana’s Main Gate. There could also be new indoor attractions such as galleries to showcase our multicultural heritage and enhance the horticultural experience for visitors.
Dhoby Ghaut Green will also house a garden honouring the pioneering spirit and contributions of Singapore women, first proposed in the White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development in 2022. To encourage the continuation of this pioneering spirit, the garden aims to introduce more flexible public spaces to support commemorative events and activities for women's groups, as well as educational content for visitors.
Creating a family-friendly lifestyle destination
The rejuvenated Dhoby Ghaut Green is envisioned to include an Activity Promenade, a multi-functional space that will be designed to be adaptable for various community and recreational activities, such as outdoor art sessions, public performances, street markets, and festivals. There could also be opportunities for new recreational and green spaces such as playgardens and open lawns which the public can use and enjoy.
Finally, we are studying the feasibility of an elevated link bridge connecting Dhoby Ghaut Green to Fort Canning Park, providing better access to other attractions in the area.
More details on the rejuvenation of Istana Park and the Dhoby Ghaut area can be found in the Annex.
The plans to rejuvenate Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut are part of efforts to transform Singapore into a City in Nature while injecting vibrancy into the Orchard Road precinct and enhancing its overall appeal to both tourists and residents. Together with the Singapore Tourism Board and URA, NParks remains committed towards revitalising the precinct and strengthening Orchard Road’s position as a premier lifestyle destination.
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