Under-used car parks at sports facilities may be redeveloped: Wong

SINGAPORE — Car parks at sports facilities around the island that are under-utilised will be reviewed for possible redevelopment to build more amenities for public use, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong told Parliament yesterday.

He was replying to questions by Mounbatten Member of Parliament Lim Biow Chuan and Nominated MP Benedict Tan on whether the ministry will consider opening up the car parks for free to encourage more people to use the sports facilities.

Mr Wong noted that as many sports facilities are centrally located in relation to other amenities, there is a risk that car park lots will be taken up by non-sports users.

“If indeed there are car parks that are under-utilised, then we should more closely examine whether there is a better use of the car parks and whether they can be converted to other facilities, like sports facilities, which can benefit more people.”

He added that it was better to channel resources “to measures that can directly benefit all users of sports facilities”.

Mr Wong cited last year’s launch of ActiveSG as an example. New members, whether they drive or not, were given S$100 credit which could be redeemed for the use of sports facilities and programmes.

The ActiveSG scheme — aimed at getting Singaporeans to play sports and live a healthy lifestyle — has attracted more than 700,000 members so far. Ian De Cotta