letter to mah bow tan

Pasir Ris Secondary School
390 TAMPINES STREET 21
SINGAPORE 529400

21July 2008

Mr Mah Bow Tan
Minister For National Development
Member of Tampines GRC

Dear Minister Mah,

Suggestions for improving the playgrounds in Tampines

We did some research about the various playgrounds that allow handicaps to use it. These playgrounds could make the lives of the handicaps more enjoyable as they might not have experience playing on the playground before. We have come up with an idea of a handicap playground.

This playground eases handicaps in the movement of the playground as they have difficulty in moving around. They also will be able to foster friendship so that they would not be lonely. The handicaps will be able to overcome fear as there will be many challenges such as they will move around on their own with safety measures and parents would be able to accompany them to ensure their safety. It is specially designed for the handicapped children. It has special learning corners to let the children learn. This could build up their confidence in themselves.

I have researched about the playground in Tampines neighborhood and have noticed that the handicaps are not able to use the playgrounds and whenever the children are playing the playground the handicaps would just sit one side and watch then play. The playgrounds do not have facilities that could be used for the handicaps. Their faces looked as if they had been abandoned. It is very heartening to see their sad faces I hope I could help them but I cannot.

The playgrounds in Tampines could be installed with ramps that ease the accessibility of the handicaps. Swings make children feel like they can fly. Good swing set seats lets them experience that feeling while staying safe. Special swing seats could be built in with safety belts that secure the handicap’s safety and would prevent them from falling down. The flooring could be made of rubber so it would be able to impact the falling. Railings could guide the handicaps and could be installed around the inside of the playground.

I hope that the authorities could look into the matter as soon as possible.

Yours truly,
Arnold Pok Shun Jie
Student of Pasir Ris Secondary School