I loved the big and busy pools near Bukit Panjang in the North and the other exciting pool at Anchorvale, but then I found Yio Chu Kang, a simpler older style pool which appealed to me with its fountains and trees.
Next to the Yio Chu Kang MRT station and the Grassroots' Club for leaders of Grassroots.
Yio Chu Kang swimming pool. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Children's Pool
The public Children's pool at Yio Chu Kang has low water, an attractively yellow-coloured slide with red steps and high fountains. The pool area is surrounded by greenery.
If you view this photo on a large screen you can see that an adult is only up to his knees in water. The pool is thus no use to adults for swimming, but safer for children.
I loved the wrought ironwork. All curves, like pieces of cake. So restful.
Yio Chu Kang children's pool, late Saturday night.
The adult pool is next door.
Yio Chu Kang swimming pool. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Convenient Location
Yio Chu Kang public swimming pool is next to the Yio Chu Kang MRT (above ground railway station which connects to the underground railway stations).
Multiple Sports Opportunities
This is quite a good centre for sport, with separate adult and children's pools, tennis courts alongside, and a stadium. All are beside the MRT as well as a polytechnic, which makes them attractive to students into fitness or fun activities.
Design
The swimming pool is pleasingly curved, rather than the functional oblong design. I dare say some people would prefer an oblong Olympic style pool for exercise. However, the curve is pleasing to the eye.
I appreciate swimming in a pool without marked lanes. Less chance of being mown down by somebody doing backstroke.
Personal Story Aside About Accidents And Ambulances
I was hit on the head by the arm of a faster swimmer doing backstroke in lanes in a small club pool in the UK. The pool supervisor called an ambulance to check me out, as she was required to do, both for my safety and to protect her employers from any later insurance claim dispute about their negligence.
It's very easy to think you are OK when you are injured. I had multiple injuries in a car accident, broken ribs. No visible injury. No blood. I kept saying I was OK, until I discovered I could not move. I then asked bystanders to call an ambulance.)
Prices at Yio Chu Kang
The Yio Chu Kang prices are very reasonable. For Singaporean senior citizens (over the age of 55) and children (1-17 years old), weekdays, the price is only 50 cents per entry. It goes up to 60 cents at weekends and public holidays.
The usual adult price is one singapore dollar weekdays, going up to S$1.30 at weekends and public holidays. Standard entry for a foreigner is S$.1.30 weekdays and S$1.70 at weekends and public holidays.
If you just want a rough guide to prices, it is less than two dollars.
Prices are per entry, not per day. So if you go off for lunch and come back afterwards you have to pay again. The same would apply if you had to go to the station to meet somebody and guide them to the location.
Opening times
The pool opens at 6.30 am about four days a week for those who are up early and want to swim every day or several days a week. it closes about 8.30 in the evening.
When I asked in September 2018 the ticket office assistants told me that Thursdays the pool is closed in the mornings for maintenance, open from lunch time. Please check times before setting off.
Senja-Cashew Complex Swimming Pool
Other modern swimming pool are at the newer Community Clubs. For example, the one I saw at Senja-Cashew Toastmasters Club meeting near Bukit Panjang MRT railway station.
Anchorvale
If you want a pool which looks like a theme park, try the one at Anchorvale.
Useful Websites
For annual membership entitling you to unlimited swimming at most or all swimming pools see:
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
