Park Walker - Katong Park - Fort Under the Park

Park Walker - Katong Park - Fort Under the Park (2021 0121)

Fort Tanjong Katong from 1879 to 1901

Address: Junction of Meyer Road & Fort Road

Open: 24 hours

Getting There:
MRT Mountbatten exit B board bus 30 (HarbourFront)/158 (Rhu Cross)/ 401 (Sat/Sun/PH) and alight at Opposite Fort Gardens for 2 stops

A little history

1. Katong Park is one of the oldest parks in Singapore. It is build in 1930s and was a popular park back in its heydays due to the location next to the sea ( back then East Coast Park did not exist)

2. It was so popular then that there was a pagar (fence) build there to create a safe swimming zone. Unfortunately due to land reclamation in the 1960s, the park has slowly lost its lustre as a premier park for families.

3. Along the footpath on the park, you get to see signboards giving a little history of the park. Some historical facts on Katong Park

1. 4. Before the park became a family destination in the 1930s, it was actually known as Fort Tanjong Katong from 1879 to 1901. The Fort was buried as it was abandoned due to its then remote location.

2. 5. Katong Park was bomded 3 times in the Sep 1963 by Indonesia Konfrontasi to disrupt the formation of Malaysia.

3. 6. The Fort was rediscovered in 2001by Jack Sim, a local resident who is also the founder of World Toilet Organisation

4. 7. Excavation was carried out in 2004 to study the Fort. It was reburied again in 2005 to preserve it leaving only a small portion exposed.

5. 8. It was a factory site servicing aircraft engines of military planes during the war years

Those two sculptures of British & Indian Sikh guards serve, in a cheerful way, to symbolise the multi-ethnic civic defense forces in the 1800s. Donated by a resident Mr. Jack Sim