FITNESS CORNERS IN HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD ESTATES

Abstract

In conjunction with the "Sports For All" policy undertaken by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has been striving to build sufficient sports and recreational facilities in its housing estates. However, the effective environment created and participated in by users does not reflect the potential environment projected by the planner. This phenomenon necessitates a survey of the public provisions in the HDB housing estates to find out the extent to which the original goals have been achieved and the causes accounting for their deviation. To this end, the writer has confined himself to one facility, namely, the fitness corner since it is the most recent facility introduced by HDB. This study attempts to examine the residents' usage and level of satisfaction pertaining to some of the provisions in the fitness corner. Major maintenance problems are also discussed to give an insight into the difficulties of providing such a facility. The study will conclude by summarising the results of the analyses, and make recommendations for future similar recreational planning.