On 3 February, Minister for National Development Mr Lawrence Wong announced upcoming enhancements to Fort Canning Park and its surroundings. These enhancements will include the re-creation of three historical gardens on Fort Canning Hill and the vicinity: Jubilee Park, the Royal Garden, and the First Botanic Garden.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance, and Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, being briefed by an NParks officer and CEO/NParks Mr Kenneth Er on the enhancements to be carried out within Fort Canning Park.

These gardens, which make up the heritage landscapes of Fort Canning Hill, will be restored as part of sensitive enhancements to Fort Canning Park, bringing the hill’s historical features back to life. They will be accompanied by more education and outreach programmes, as well as enhanced accessibility infrastructure for the park, including covered escalators.

In addition, Fort Canning Centre will be repurposed as a gallery for visitors to learn more about the history of the hill and its surroundings. Fort Canning Centre will also host the Singapore Bicentennial exhibition in 2019.

A public exhibition was held from 3 to 11 February to seek feedback on features visitors would like to see at the new Jubilee Park, elements they enjoy most about Fort Canning Park, and possible volunteer activities to participate in.

The event was held in conjunction with Festival at the Fort, which also featured the Rockestra concert that same evening. Close to 4,000 visitors partied to retro hits from the 1960s to 1990s, performed by Jack & Rai, Shagies, and other local bands.