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| Source: Jane's Walk Singapore Peatix website. Aerial view of Queenstown. |
Jane’s Walk marks its fifth year in Singapore with a weekend of free walking tours across Singapore.
Jane's Walk is a movement of free citizen-led walking tours inspired by urban thinker, writer and activist Jane Jacobs. Jane Jacobs was a champion of walkability, thriving neighbourhoods and involving local communities in the changing landscape of city life. Jane taught that understanding a city requires observation, questioning and discovery. She is most famous for writing the book The Death and Life of Great American Cities.
Every year, cities around the world celebrate Jane Jacobs with a weekend of free walks in the city on the weekend closest to her birthday (May 4). In Singapore, the walks are led by the people who call Singapore home. Participants are typically residents of the city.
Jane’s Walk in Singapore started in 2013 with four walks and has grown substantially since then. Jane’s Walk Walk Leaders come from many backgrounds, and varied passions and interests. Urban planners, university professors, docents, architects, journalists, writers, poets, outdoor enthusiasts, natural history volunteers, heritage advocate groups, and migrant activists have all led walks. Jane's Walk has also had the privilege of professional tour guides who have waived their fees to share their considerable knowledge with participants for Jane’s Walk weekend.
Jane’s Walk is supported by the Singapore Heritage Society. There are currently 22 walks along 19 themes open for registration on the Jane’s Walk Peatix page. More walks may be added over time. Sample walks include:
An exploration of Queenstown on April 29
Visit the old Woodlands Town Centre on May 5
Discover the historical significance of the area around City Hall on May 5
Black and white houses explained, at Goodwood Park on May 5, Adam Park on May 6, and Alexandra Park on May 7
Other walks will cover Little India and Farrer Park on May 6 and May 7, Tiong Bahru, and Bukit Brown (both the Bukit Brown cemetery itself and a walk from Botanic Gardens to Bukit Brown).
Interested?
The walks are timed for 5 to 7 May 2017, though some are earlier. Walks must be booked through Peatix. Slots are available on a first-come-first-served basis, and often become full quickly. A walk may be in urban surroundings or through natural landscapes, and is typically graded on difficulty. It may accommodate 15 to 30 people depending on the nature of the walk.
Contact Mai Tatoy, City Organiser for Singapore to host a walk at mtatoy at gmail.com
posted from Bloggeroid
