The plan for the Metsäläntien snow dump site allows for both snow storage and treatment. The planned area is located on the edge of Central Park, next to the junction of Hämeenlinnanväylä and Metsäläntie. The plans for the area also include meltwater collection and treatment basins and equipment.
The aim is to build a new, permanent snow dump site in Helsinki, which will improve the overall snow management and serve especially the western parts of Helsinki, which have too few snow dump areas.
The planning of the Metsäläntie snow dump site is based on the decision of the Helsinki City Board to develop snow management. The Environmental Protection Act, which prohibits dumping snow into the sea, came into force in 2025, and the Hernesaari snow dump site will be closed in spring 2028.
The closure of the Hernesaari dump site will significantly reducethe capacityof snow reception and increase the length of transports, especially in southern and western Helsinki.
As part of the solutions to replace it, the City proposes establishing a snow dump site on Metsäläntie. There is no housing in the area’s immediate vicinity and it is easily accessible. The site can also be equipped with an efficient system for filtering and treating meltwater.
Minimising impacts on nature and recreation
The new operations are designed to have as few adverse effects as possible on the nature in Central Park and on the area’s recreational use. The snow is processed in a fenced area, excluding the surroundings of the Maunula hiking lodge and Haaganpuro creek, the major recreational routes in the area and the valuable forest and bird sites.
During the planning process, the snow treatment area has been reduced to preserve the surrounding trees, but some trees will still have to be removed to establish the snow dump area. New trees will be planted towards the roads and Central Park to provide cover, as well as in the zone between the snow dump site and Haaganpuro. A new access road from Metsäläntie to the snow dump site is being planned in order to avoid the interference of snow transports with recreational routes. The aim is to schedule snow transport mainly at night.
Developing new solutions for future snow management
Helsinki’s aim for the future is to set up smaller local snow-melting and treatment stations across the City. However, these cannot replace large snow dump sites.
Solutions are also being sought through municipal cooperation and from private actors, especially to increase temporary capacity during winters with heavy snowfall.
