Kallang Basin Swimming Complex & St Wilfred Sport Centre to close in 2025, sites to be studied for public housing

Kallang Basin ActiveSG Swimming Complex in Geylang Bahru and St Wilfred ActiveSG Sport Centre in Boon Keng will cease operations permanently upon their lease expiry in 2025.

Kallang Basin Swimming Complex will close on Sep. 1, whereas St Wilfred Sport Centre will close on Oct. 1, according to a Jun. 13 media release issued by Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Singapore government agencies are currently studying plans to introduce public housing at these sites as part of "ongoing efforts to address the strong and broad-based demand for housing in recent years".

Meanwhile, residents can look forward to a new Sport-in-Precinct facility in Whampoa, set to be completed by the end of 2025, which promises to offer additional sporting options after the closure of the sports complexes.

Sites to be redeveloped

According to URA, the redevelopment of the sites where the sports complexes are situated is part of the government's regular review of land use plans "to ensure that current and future needs of Singaporeans are carefully planned for".

These reviews include identifying suitable sites to support Singaporeans' "diverse housing aspirations and evolving needs".

"As part of our land use strategies, we adopt a sustainable approach by recycling our land for redevelopment, which allows us to repurpose sites and reallocate spaces so as to better meet the evolving needs of our residents," said URA.

While the government studies plans to introduce public housing at these sites, it "remains committed to providing public housing and ensuring a quality living environment for all".

"As part of our long-term planning efforts, the government will also continue to develop and enhance sports infrastructure, working closely with the community to meet Singapore's evolving lifestyle and recreational needs," added URA.

Residents can visit other sports facilities nearby

URA added that residents can maintain their active lifestyle at other facilities nearby following the closure of the Kallang Basin Swimming Complex and St Wilfred Sport Centre.

These include ActiveSG Swimming Complexes at Serangoon, Geylang East, and Jalan Besar, as well as a football field at Bendeemeer Secondary School, available under a dual-use scheme.

The complete list of available sports venues across Singapore can be found online.

At the same time, government agencies are "committed to working closely together to bring alternative sporting amenities closer to homes," said URA.

Two such examples will be the new Sport-in-Prescinct facilities in Whampoa and Kolam Ayer.

More sports facilities to be ready by 2026

Looking ahead, Sport Singapore (SportSG) will continue to develop and rejuvenate infrastructure "to meet Singapore's diverse and evolving sports needs, interests, and aspirations", as part of the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP), said URA.

Since 2013, the number of ActiveSG facilities across the island has increased by 30 per cent.

By 2026, several sports facilities are also expected to become available for use, which include:

• Farrer Park Town Play Field, which includes plans to house a sheltered swimming pool, a multi-purpose play field, and an inclusive gym
• Queenstown Sport Centre, offering more free-to-play spaces and refurbished pool amenities — expected to be ready by the end of 2025
• Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex, offering a new sheltered swimming pool and fitness spaces — expected to be ready by the end of 2025
• Punggol Regional Sport Centre, which will house sheltered tennis and futsal courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools with a 5,000 seater stadium — opening in 2026

Concurrently, SportSG will also continue to explore opportunities to add recreational spaces and sporting amenities to future residential neighbourhoods.

"These efforts support SFMP's vision of enabling the majority of our residents to access affordable and inclusive sports facilities within a 10-minute walk from their homes by around 2030," read the media release.

Top images via Google Maps