The aim of national urban parks is to preserve and develop urban nature and the built cultural environment as extensive and unitary wholes, and to develop the green and recreation network of the area. There are currently national urban parks in ten cities in Finland.
Properties owned by the City, the state or public communities will primarily be included in the national urban park area. Other areas may be included in the park with the landowner’s consent.
The urban park could extend from the city centre to Haltiala
In 2017–2020, Helsinki investigated the possibility of establishing a National Urban Park. After an extensive preliminary investigation phase, the project was put back on the drawing board, and the status of the national urban park is now being examined on the basis of the core area of Central Park and Haltiala, as per the City Board’s decision. The analysis extends to the city centre.
The preliminary content of the application for a National Urban Park will be on display from 27 November to 21 December 2025 at hel.fi/kaupunkipuisto.
The aim is for the application for a National Urban Park to be submitted to the Urban Environment Committee and then to the City Board for decision-making sometime in 2026. The Ministry of the Environment will decide on approving the application. The establishment of a national urban park is governed by the Land Use and Building Act.
Comments on the preliminary content of the application to be collected through a map survey from 27 November to 21 December 2025
Comments on the preliminary content of the application for a National Urban Park will be collected through a map survey open from 27 November to 21 December 2025. In the survey, you can examine the preliminary area demarcation of the National Urban Park and provide your views on the values and areas to be developed and preserved in the area. The results of the resident survey will be used in the preparation of the application for a National Urban Park.
Official reminders will be provided and more extensive interaction conducted in 2026.
