Didn't know he's Chief Gardener
The Landscape of Singapore's Chief Gardener
On June 16, 1963, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr
Lee Kuan Yew, planted his first tender sapling – envisioning
that a clean and green garden city would sprout endless
socioeconomic advantages.
Today, almost 50 percent of the island is covered with
lush greenery. More than two million trees have flourished in
a well-tended city that continually sends signals to investors
about our orderly nature and productivity. A cool canopy with
shade trees has helped reduced air temperatures while civic
beautification and protected biodiversity have improved the
quality of urban living.
As a result, Singapore’s eco-rich environment allowed
us to meet the lifestyle requirements of an increasingly
affluent population and enhanced Singapore’s attractiveness
as a destination for foreign businesses – echoing Mr Lee’s
sentiments that “greening is the most cost-effective project”
he launched. This greening drive has been widened by
Singapore’s National Parks Board, which strives to recast
the “Garden City” as “A City in a Garden” distinguished by a
seamless green infrastructure of parks and streetscapes.
The Landscape of Singapore's Chief Gardener
On June 16, 1963, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr
Lee Kuan Yew, planted his first tender sapling – envisioning
that a clean and green garden city would sprout endless
socioeconomic advantages.
Today, almost 50 percent of the island is covered with
lush greenery. More than two million trees have flourished in
a well-tended city that continually sends signals to investors
about our orderly nature and productivity. A cool canopy with
shade trees has helped reduced air temperatures while civic
beautification and protected biodiversity have improved the
quality of urban living.
As a result, Singapore’s eco-rich environment allowed
us to meet the lifestyle requirements of an increasingly
affluent population and enhanced Singapore’s attractiveness
as a destination for foreign businesses – echoing Mr Lee’s
sentiments that “greening is the most cost-effective project”
he launched. This greening drive has been widened by
Singapore’s National Parks Board, which strives to recast
the “Garden City” as “A City in a Garden” distinguished by a
seamless green infrastructure of parks and streetscapes.
