Sun Hung Kai Properties' (SHKP) New Town Plaza in Shatin will be a new centre of attention in August when the first outdoor Peanuts playground in Asia (and just the second in the world) opens on the mall's L3 podium, offering enchantment and fun for the entire family.

SHKP's Joanna Yeung, General Manager (Leasing), KN Lam, Senior Architect, Cris Fung, Assistant Manager of Internal Affairs and Ivan Lam, General Deputy Manager of the Hong Chui Consultant and Landscape Company, met the media today to introduce the concept, design and special attractions of Snoopy's World.

The 40,000 square-foot Snoopy's World is the first shopping centre theme park in SHKP's mall rejuvenation plan. The project was 18 months in the making and cost over HK$30 million. Ms Yeung said the theme play area would add to New Town Plaza's attractions and offer a widely-expanded range of entertainment facilities.

Six different fun zones

Snoopy's World has six amusement zones: Snoopy's House, Peanuts Academy, Canoe Ride, Peanuts Dugout, Peanuts Boulevard and Party Pavilion. The 4.5-meter Snoopy House at the entrance to the park will be a museum of Peanuts characters and their creator, Charles Schulz. Inside the park will be an enormous floor mosaic of Snoopy made from multi-colored ceramic titles, and seven 1.5-meter mechanical Peanuts characters above an archway playing lively music. Adjacent will be a bright yellow American-style school bus that houses an art classroom.

The Peanuts Dugout is a baseball diamond with adventure play facilities, and right next to that are Peanuts Boulevard and the Party Pavilion where visitors can rest or take photos. The most exciting attraction is a three-minute canoe ride that takes visitors to different scenic points with Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

Snoopy's World is unique. Ivan Lam, one of the designers of the park, said its theme is Snoopy's everyday life, and each zone follows a story line so visitors feel like they are in the comic strip.

Setting world record

Snoopy's World has over 60 Peanuts figures in different sizes, and the giant Snoopy at 3.5 meters high, 5.5 meters long and 3 meters wide, reclining on the red roof of his dog house, is the largest outdoor model Snoopy in the World. Every Snoopy figure has been made precisely and is faithful to the artist's original creation, and all the figures will be approved by the US trademark agent to ensure quality.

Snoopy's World is near completion and is expected to open in mid August, giving New Town Plaza a completely new look.