Growing a Greener Future with Cantonment Primary School

As part of our continued commitment to sustainability and community engagement, Discover Tanjong Pagar recently held a tree planting day in collaboration with Cantonment Primary School. This meaningful initiative is part of our 100 Tree Movement, which aligns with the National Parks Board’s (NParks) OneMillionTrees movement — a nationwide effort to plant one million trees across Singapore by 2030.

Held under sunny skies and filled with cheerful energy, the tree planting session brought together students, teachers, and members of the Discover Tanjong Pagar community. It was a hands-on opportunity for the young participants to connect with nature and learn about the importance of biodiversity and environmental stewardship.

Cantonment Primary School, located at the heart of our precinct, has always been a strong advocate for environmental education. Their involvement underscores the vital role our next generation plays in shaping a more sustainable future.

This event also marked a major milestone — we’ve now planted 80 out of the 100 trees in our 100 Tree Movement! Each tree planted not only contributes to the larger national movement but also enhances the urban greenery within our vibrant district, making it a more livable and beautiful place for all.

We are proud to be part of this growing movement and thankful to Cantonment Primary School for joining us in this effort. Together, we are nurturing not just trees, but a culture of care and responsibility for the environment.

Stay tuned as we work toward planting the final 20 trees and continue rolling out more green initiatives with our community.

Singapore, 29 November 2022 – Discover Tanjong Pagar (DTP) has been acknowledged for their placemaking role in the Tanjong Pagar area by attaining the Municipal Services Award (MSA) Community Category conferred by the Municipal Services Offices (MSO) under the Ministry of National Development (MND) on 29 November 2022. The MSA recognises excellent citizen-centric delivery of municipal services, inter-agency collaborative efforts and partnership with the community to achieve effective solutions in addressing municipal issues on the ground. Under the Community Category, the award recognises projects led by our community partners which have improved our living environment together with our partner agencies and Town Councils.

This win is a testament to DTP’s years of successful programming in the precinct, from enlivening and enhancing public spaces to engaging activities aimed at involving the community and enriching the social fabric of the area. It is also the first business-led body formed through the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) pilot Business Improvement District (BID) Programme to achieve the MSA win as a collective group of commercial and public stakeholders.

Chairman of Discover Tanjong Pagar and Managing Director of Carlton City Hotel (Singapore), Kenneth Li said, “We are humbled by, and give our heartfelt thanks to the eight DTP members, the working team and the authorities involved for this vote of confidence. It is heartening to see that DTP’s placemaking efforts in Tanjong Pagar have taken root since its inception in 2019 and have grown over time. We believe integrated and coordinated efforts by the stakeholders are greater than the sum of its parts. Through just starting small, experimentation and organising varied activities in carrying out programming efforts in the precinct, a strong ecosystem of partnerships and networks have been built amongst our different stakeholders, such as property owners, business operators, residents, community groups and the authorities. It also strengthens social and economic resilience, enabling us to tackle common challenges together.”

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The annual Tanjong Pagar Gives Back movement was conceived by Discover Tanjong Pagar (DTP) to involve and bring the Tanjong Pagar community together in a series of projects, partnerships and activities that give back to society.

Discover Tanjong Pagar rallied the public and the Tanjong Pagar Community from November to December 2022, to join in the gift of giving by bringing joy and smiles to those who need it. The donors adopted the Christmas wishes, bought presents & returned the gifts back to the stakeholders’ collection point.

Christmas with a Star initiative has fulfilled at least 800 Christmas wishes  of underprivileged children and youth across various social services agencies – ARC Children Centre, Beyond Social Services, Blessings in a Bag, Care Community Services Singapore,  Faithacts, New Hope Community Services and Yong-En Care Centre.

In support of SG Cares Giving week, This campaign is supported by SG Cares Volunteer Centre (VC) @ Kreta Ayer andSG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Jalan Besar, to bring Christmas joy to children and youth from less privileged families.

Tanjong Pagar Gives Back Participating Stakeholders & Partner – Mulberry Learning at Tanjong Pagar

Tanjong Pagar Gives Back Participating Stakeholders

Discover Tanjong Pagar was formed since September 2019 by eight property & business owners at Tanjong Pagar. The eight stakeholders are Carlton City Group’s Carlton City Hotel Singapore; OUE’s Downtown Gallery; GuocoLand Singapore’s Guoco Tower; Far East Organization’s Icon Village; Tian Teck Group’s International Plaza; Far East Hospitality’s Oasia Hotel Downtown Singapore; the owner of Orchid Hotel; and Sofitel Singapore City Centre. Since its official launch on 7 September 2019 at Guoco Tower Urban Park, the group has been working closely with communities and government agencies to curate and experiment placemaking initiative with the objective to build a community and connect people and businesses together to make the precinct even more liveable and vibrant.

DTP celebrated its 4th Anniversary in conjunction with Mid-autumn Festival on 10 September 2022 on Tras Link Road Closure, DTP Community Green and Guoco Tower Urban Park.  A collaboration with government agencies and private sectors, DTP marks a milestone of another year as a business-led body formed through URA’s pilot Business Improvement District Program, on a Mid-autumn occasion that symbolises reunion of people coming together.

Facilitated by URA, supported by Traffic Police, LTA and SLA, DTP’s first street activation project on Tras Link Road Closure, curated by DTP stakeholders, who also brought traditional kuehs, snacks and games for the Tanjong Pagar community.  Other placemaking partners also joined in the fun – Lighting Detective, a group of individuals who are dedicated to the study of light culture, conducted an lantern making workshop using recycled materials and also, PlaystreetSG, an initiative by Singapore Wellness Association that transforms Tras street into a giant playground and a fun space with heritage games, suitable for people aged 3 and above.

A partnership with Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru Grassroots organisation, who curated the Mid-autumn program line up of chang-er balloon sculpture and activities showcase by Tanjong Pagar Community Club interest group at DTP community Green and Mid-autumn concert repertoire by Ding Yi Music Company at Guoco Tower urban Park.

Eco-lantern Social Media competition championed and prizes sponsored by DTP stakeholders was also conducted 2 weeks prior to the festival. Participants had to use recycled materials, post a photo of their lantern on socials to get as many likes as they can. 8 finalists with the most number of likes were selected to bring their lanterns to DTP Community Green for on-site voting. The festivalgoers were the voters who help to determine the winners to the staycation prizes and vouchers.

Refreshment and snacks by DTP Stakeholders

Boomer & Gen-Alpha challenge by DTP stakeholder & her son

Lantern making workshop by Lighting Detectives 

PlayStreets on Tras Link

Eco-lantern participating entry, display of Chang er balloon & Eco-lantern winner with Minister Indranee

The stakeholders of Discover Tanjong Pagar & students of Mulberry Learnings Tanjong Pagar celebrated Singapore’s 57th National Day through sports, at  DTP Community Green, on 8 August 2022.

The aerobic instructors sponsored by Sports Singapore conducted a fun and engaging workout for the teachers, parents, grandparents and students and also invited parkgoers at DTP Community Green to join in to get active together. The event was also supported by National Parks Board and Singapore Land Authority.

Celebrating all things Singapore, heritage traditional biscuits were also introduced to the little ones via the traditional biscuits stalls at Tanjong Pagar Plaza.  Accordingly most of them chose Ice Gem & Little Mantou biscuits to bring home a pack each. The stall owners of the traditional biscuits supported the biscuit redemption for 60 students. According to them, Ice Gem & little Mantou biscuits were the most popular choices. Stall owner from Makan Munchies also packed the snacks with NDP stickers and with NDP theme temporary tattoos as gifts for the students.

This multi-generation activity is a showcase of DTP stakeholders coming together with government agencies and connecting the merchants with the communities vice versa, for the benefits of the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood.

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Cantonment Primary School (CPS) adopted Discover Tanjong Pagar’s Bean to Green initiative as part of their donation drive, Terra Village held on 5 August 2022, to raise funds to grow more trees in Tanjong Pagar.

DTP connected CPS to collect the used coffee grounds from 6oz espresso bar at Downtown Gallery one month prior to Terra Village for their students to recycle the used coffee grounds.

The students setup booth to sell recycled  at $2 per pack, there was also display of  recipe recommendation on how to use it as a fertilisers to promote plant growth. The packs were quick sold out & had contributed to the total proceeds to NParks’ Garden City Fund that enable the school to plant 8 trees in the precinct.

The school contributed to making the precinct greener through the effort of putting the used coffee ground back into the loop.

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Singapore, 22 April 2022 – Discover Tanjong Pagar, a business-led body formed through URA’s pilot Business Improvement District (BID) Programme, launched its first Bean to Green Initiative on Earth’s Day 2022, which is the use of recycled coffee grounds collected from coffee merchants – 6oz Espresso Bar, Jewel Coffee and The Marmalade Pantry to fertilise the trees planted in Tanjong Pagar.

The coffee grounds collected from the coffee merchants were processed as compost at Stakeholder – Downtown Gallery’s premises. Discover Tanjong Pagar celebrated Earth’s Day and invited the parents, students & teachers from Mulberry learnings to use the compost as fertilisers for the 40 trees at DTP Community Green and Duxton Plain Park, which were planted by Stakeholders, URA & partners. It was also a day out for Mulberry Learnings with activities such as story telling and a nature walk. The Mulberrians also brought their own reuseable bottle to water the trees and took time to clean the park after their activities.

Approximately 10 litres of coffee grounds collected from coffee merchants were processed at Downtown Gallery rooftop garden and used as fertilizers. 6oz espresso bar & Jewel coffee also offered discount for dine in / Bring Your Own cup redemption during the same week.

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Singapore, 26 March 2022 – marks the official opening of Discover Tanjong Pagar (DTP) eco-playground, Singapore’s first inclusive eco-playground designed and built by a business-led body formed through URA’s pilot Business Improvement District (BID) Programme. The playground is made of upcycled wood from felled old trees. Located at the DTP Community Green – a 17,760 sqft (1,650 sqm) flexible outdoor space bounded by Tras Link, Wallich Street and Peck Seah Street (between Sofitel Singapore City Centre at Guoco Tower and Orchid Hotel), it is designed in collaboration and feedback from critical end-users from Tanjong Pagar such as children, early education practitioners and educators, parents, grandparents and technical specialists.

Launched by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development, Adviser to Tanjong Pagar GRC Grassroots Organisations (Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru) and the DTP team led by Mr Kenneth Li, Chairman of Discover Tanjong Pagar, the eco-playground was a result of months of meaningful collaboration and partnership across the private and government sectors as well as the Tanjong Pagar community.

Ms Indranee said, “It is heartening to see how this pilot BID is shaping the Tanjong Pagar precinct into a more connected, vibrant, and sustainable one. The area, which already has a strong ‘live-work-play’ characteristic, is further augmented through placemaking. Despite the pandemic, it has gradually transformed the precinct into a compelling locale that excites people. It sets the stage to create a rich and endearing place and space we can call our own. Today’s eco-playground is one good example.
I welcome the continuous efforts to foster a stronger appreciation and understanding of this precinct, enliven the neighbourhood and create a distinctive district that provides varied experiences. I look forward to Discover Tanjong Pagar’s future plans for placemaking programming and activities for the public.”

Mr Kenneth Li, who is also the Managing Director of Carlton City Hotel (Singapore) (新加坡卡尔登城市酒店董事总经理), said, “Drawing from the diverse demographics and unique elements of this precinct, we strive to build an enhanced live, work and play experience. We envision a Tanjong Pagar with public spaces that serve to strengthen the social and economic networks of the community, seamlessly bringing people and businesses together. In creating an inclusive community, we focused on the family and how families can come together to watch their next generation develop and grow through exploration. It is this focus on child development that evolved into the playground that we see today. Through our collective vision and placemaking efforts, we hope to forge a deeper sense of ownership for the Tanjong Pagar community as we foster a stronger appreciation and understanding of this amazing precinct.”

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Discover Tanjong Pagar celebrated the official launch of first inclusive Eco-playground with Ms Indranee, performances by Mulberry Learnings & talented Guzheng Player, Zen Tan from Tanjong Pagar Community Club.

The playground is designed and built by Roger&Sons, a family-run woodworking design studio that crafts bespoke furniture and objects.

Kelly Ser, a Singaporean artist who used to work in Tanjong Pagar, has created an artwork inspired by eight stakeholders coming together to enliven Tanjong Pagar, and the power of collective action to effect and deliver change to their precinct. The artwork was also installed at the Eco-playground’s creative wall.

Both Kelly Ser & Roger&Sons designers were present at the launch to share on their design intent with the guests.

Sports Singapore supported Discover Tanjong Pagar with sports activities and mega soccer darts for all to participate.

23 February 2022 – As part of its efforts to make Tanjong Pagar an even more vibrant and green district, Discover Tanjong Pagar (DTP) has pledged to work with other partners and stakeholders to plant a total of 100 trees in the precinct by 2025 as a show of support to the One Million Trees movement, which is led by NParks.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) supports DTP’s 100 trees movement as part of NParks’ One Million Trees movement. The 24 trees were donated by URA through the Plant-A-Tree programme by NParks’ Garden City Fund, a registered charity and Institution of Public Character (IPC) .

Thanks to NParks for supporting on the logistics, 24 trees were planted on 23 Feb morning by DTP stakeholders, DTP’s green partners – The Sustainability Project & One Million Books, Tanjong Pagar residents & Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Join us in making Tanjong Pagar even more livable, lovable and sustainable. Click here for details if you like to find out how you can donate to Garden City Fund Plant-A-Tree Programme via Discover Tanjong Pagar to plant more trees in the precinct.

Visit www.gardencityfund.gov.sg for details on sustainable projects that help make Singapore our City in Nature.

Check out the photos featuring the participants in actions & stretch of green at Duxton Plain Park against the beautiful backdrop of Tanjong Pagar Precinct.