10,000-seat stadium, indoor pools and sheltered courts among new sports facilities in Toa Payoh

SINGAPORE In a major rejuvenation of the city of Toa Payoh, residents will be able to enjoy a range of indoor and sheltered sports facilities in addition to a 10,000-seat stadium and community facilities when the Toa Payoh Integrated Development (TPID) is completed in 2030.

The development, located between Lorong 6 Toa Payoh and Pan-Island Expressway, will be the focal point of Toa Payoh, Minister of Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said at a groundbreaking ceremony on January 5.

TPID's facilities will be built on the site of the former Toa Payoh Sports Centre, which closed after 50 years on October 31, 2023, and include a 2,000-seat aquatic center with four indoor pools and three outdoor leisure pools.

There is also a 5,000 seat indoor hall with 22 badminton courts, another indoor hall for team sports, a gym and sheltered futsal, tennis and netball courts.

The 12 hectare project will also house the new Toa Payoh Outpatient Clinic, a larger library than the current one in Toa Payoh Central and an improved urban park.

While the iconic lookout tower in the city park will be retained, other planned amenities include a dog run and an allotment garden where residents can grow their own greenery.

Mr Tong hopes that TPID will not only give the public more opportunities to participate in sporting events, but also create memories with friends and family.

He added: As part of our larger Sports Facilities Master Plan, we have been developing and revamping our sports facilities across Singapore.

TPID today is the latest in our efforts to provide top quality sports infrastructure that builds community here at home.

He also thanked the various agencies such as Sport Singapore, National Library Board, National Parks Board and National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, who have worked tirelessly on the development.

Resident Germaine Chua, who has lived in Toa Payoh all her life, welcomed news of TPID.

The 30-year-old, who works in the real estate sector, said: I think it is a very good initiative because Toa Payoh is already quite old.

This (development) will allow us to catch up with newer cities like Tampines and those in the Northeast.

She noted that there are many green and sustainability features, adding that this is in line with Singapore's vision for the future.

Another resident, Jackie Li, is looking forward to the completion of TPID. The 37-year-old speech therapist said: It should be a more vibrant city when everything is done.

Just as the Toa Payoh Sport Center hosted gatherings such as the SEA Games, TPID will also be designed to host community and sporting events. The national training centers for water sports, korfball and table tennis will also be located there.

Mr Tong added: Our intention is for this to become a secondary hub for sports facilities. We will have a 10,000 seat stadium here at TPID and this will complement the existing facilities in Jalan Besar and also in Kallang.

This provides a new hosting option for the 6,000-capacity Jalan Besar Stadium, while the National Stadium, which seats 55,000, is unavailable.

Singapore's national netball players are looking forward to moving there from their location in Kallang, which has only outdoor courts. They also train in the frequently used OCBC Arena, but sometimes face the unavailability of courts.

That could mean missing out on the opportunity to host competitions, said Toh Kai Wei, co-captain of Singapore Vandas, who added: With a new venue, there are more opportunities for us to interact with international opponents.

National table tennis players, who have also been training temporarily at the OCBC Arena, are looking forward to returning to Toa Payoh, where the Singapore Table Tennis Association was based.

Izaac Quek, 18, said: With this progress, I hope that more younger athletes will come to the sport and be more motivated.

Mr Darwin Jalil, vice-chairman of Singapore Premier League football club Balestier Khalsa, who played their home games at Toa Payoh Stadium, also hopes that they will one day return from Bishan Stadium, which they share with the Lion City Sailors .

He said: The location of the stadium has been an integral part of our club's history. Residents and businesses in the area resonate strongly with our deep roots in Toa Payoh.

Although the new Toa Payoh Aquatic Center will be slightly smaller than the 3,000-seat OCBC Aquatic Center that opened in 2014, Singapore Aquatics president Kenneth Goh believes there are subtle differences.

He said: If you compare this new facility to the OCBC Aquatic Centre, there are many similarities, but the main idea is that they are both state-of-the-art at different times.

The cost for TPID has not been disclosed. It is one of the latest projects under the Sports Facilities Master Plan, an important initiative of the national sports blueprint Vision 2030.

Other integrated community hubs with multiple facilities include Our Tampines Hub, Heartbeat@Bedok, Bukit Canberra and One Punggol.

Another development, expected to be completed by 2026, is the Punggol Regional Sports Centre. The facilities include a 5,000-seat football stadium, a swimming complex, an indoor sports hall and an archery field.

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