Introduction to Jurong Lake Park

Jurong Lake (Chinese: 裕廊湖 ; Malay: Tasik Jurong ; Tamil: ஜூரோங் ஏரி) is a 70ha freshwater lake and reservoir located in the western region of Singapore formed with the damming of Sungei Jurong further downstream. The lake serves as a reservoir contributing to the water supply of the country. It lies next to the Lakeside MRT Station, which derived its name from this geographical feature. The lake is surrounded by parkland, which serves as a recreational ground for nearby residents in Jurong East and Jurong West New Towns.

There are several tourist attractions located near or even within the Lake, including a Chinese Garden and a Japanese Garden, which are located on their respective islands within the lake, as well as the nearby Tang Dynasty Village, which has since closed down. Amenities such as the Jurong East Swimming Complex, Jurong East Stadium and Jurong Point Shopping Centre are also relatively nearby. Fairway Country Club lies further south along Yuan Ching Road.

Besides the 2 public housing estates (Jurong West and Taman Jurong), private apartments can also be found around the lake, including Lakeside Towers, Lakeside Apartments, Lakeside Condominium, Parc Oasis, The Mayfair and 3 brand new condominiums, Caspian, Lakeholmz and Lakeshore.

Jurong Lake Park is also a landscaped sanctuary spanning the perimeter of Jurong Lake. It was completed in January 2006. Also, a 2.8 kilometer water promenade along Jurong Lake Park would allow residents to participate in watersports, with dedicated off-road cycling paths. In addition, the park presents an elegant boardwalk for people to enjoy the lake up close and personal. For fishing enthusiast, there is also a fishing deck with legal fishing areas. For events, the lake boasts a staging area with a water fountain overlooking the entire Jurong Lake.

As is the case for most other reservoirs in Singapore, swimming is currently illegal in the lake, although this may change in line with the Singapore government's liberalisation of the use of bodies of water in the republic. Fishing is now allowed in some designated spots around the lake where only artificial baits can be used for fishing. However, the water is noted to be green in colour during dry weather and a murky brown after a downpour, the likely result of runoff from its urban catchment area.

The lake came into prominence in 2002 when a 3-year old boy slipped out of his mum's grasp and fell into a flooded drain which led to Sungei Launcher during a thunderstorm. His lifeless body was subsequently found in the lake after a search operation two days after the incident.