President Halimah launches “Inclusive Garden” at Istana, hosts small group of beneficiaries at the new Garden for Lunar New Year Istana Open House 2021

Around 20 beneficiaries and caregivers from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore and St Luke’s ElderCare were the first guests to tour a new “Inclusive Garden” at Istana, launched by President Halimah Yacob at this year’s Lunar New Year Istana Open House.

This is the first time in a year that the Istana has opened its grounds to a small group of beneficiaries from social service agencies during its Open House. Since February 2020, all the Istana Open Houses have been held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from touring the new Garden, the visitors were also treated to a music performance by Nanyang Primary School Chinese Orchestra.

The idea of the Inclusive Garden was mooted by President Halimah to make the Istana gardens more accessible to more segments of our society. A collaboration between the President’s Office and the National Parks Board, the Garden will cater to a wide range of visitors, including the elderly in wheelchairs and persons with disabilities.

Speaking to the media after the launch, President Halimah said:

“I am delighted to host a small group of beneficiaries, to usher in the year of the Ox at this year’s Lunar New Year Istana Open House. Due to COVID-19, it has been a while since we were able to invite guests to our Istana Open Houses.

I am also glad to launch our new Inclusive Garden at Istana. When designing the Garden, we have paid particular attention to making it more accessible to a wider range of visitors. Features such as wheelchair-friendly footpath and sensory stimulating plant varieties will make it easier and more interesting for the elderly and persons with disabilities to tour the garden. I hope to be able to host more groups at the Inclusive Garden in the near future.

We are entering the year of the Ox with a greater sense of hope, now that we have the vaccines against COVID-19. It may still take time for the world to achieve herd immunity, but I am confident that if everyone plays our part, we will be able to recover from this crisis soon. So let me take this opportunity to wish all Chinese Singaporeans a happy and healthy Lunar New Year!”

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
13 FEB 2021