Turn the riverfront into a shared space for all

FROM B1

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District, for instance, banners and logo stickers on public seating amplify the district’s identity and make its boundaries more distinct.

But equally important is sustained government and civic backing. Strong institutional support ensures that festivals and cultural initiatives are not one-off spectacles, but enduring traditions that anchor the river as part of the city’s long-term identity.

In many global cities, like Seoul and Vienna, governments play an active role in river festivals, signalling that these events are not minor, but integral to civic life.

In Singapore, the Government already provides important financial support for initiatives involving “placemaking” - a term used by planning policymakers to describe the process of creating vibrant, shared public spaces that attract people and foster community.

But beyond funding, it can further strengthen the river’s long-term relevance by making processes more efficient — from securing the necessary licences to obtaining approvals for the use of public spaces — so that placemaking efforts can be executed more smoothly and effectively.

Greater empowerment of business improvement districts would also give stakeholders the mandate and confidence to pursue bolder ideas that keep the precinct evolving.