An ideal public playground should have electronics, elderly-friendly features or blend with the natural environment, depending on who you ask. A high-tech playground that opened last Friday at the Pinnacle@Duxton in Tanjong Pagar fits the first school of thought.

The playground on level three of the 50 storey HDB complex melds electronics with physical play. Blinking rubber nodes and LED screens cue kids to leap for imaginary balloons or engage in a tug of war around a movable wheel.

“It integrates video gaming with playground equipment,” said Mr Jason Sim, managing director of Playpoint which supplied the equipment. Malls may be next to take up the gizmos from Kompan, a Danish playground developer. Those at the Pinnacle cost $140,000.

But the HDB has a different idea. It will focus instead on family playgrounds and fitness corners for the young and old. The HDB said the idea came from Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan after a trip to Shanghai in 2002.

He saw a public fitness park and garden with gym equipment for the elderly, adults and children. He transplanted the idea to his Tampines East Ward in 2003. Since then, more of such playgrounds have sprung up in new estates and older precincts approved for upgrading.

Also, seeing a demand for mixed-use playgrounds is the National Parks Board (NParks).

It will upgrade 63 playgrounds in public parks and private housing estates by March next year. It will install more fitness equipment suitable for adults and the elderly in response to requests from residents in the private estates, said NParks assistant director Tay Boon Sin.

Early childhood specialists say playgrounds could also integrate nature with play. Associate Professor Karen Philomena Nonis of the National Institute of Education suggested planting fruit trees, which kids can see and touch.

Large grassy areas can also be linked to playgrounds where parents can sit, have a picnic and hang out with other families, bringing a community together, she added.

Dr Chan Lin Ho, who heads SIM University’s early childhood education programme, suggested growing plants around playgrounds that attract butterflies. Kids can then see and learn about the insect.

They can also be given space to do gardening, said Dr Chan, 47. “Children are usually fascinated by things in nature rather than artificial things that have no diversity.”