OmaStadi proposals submitted by residents make Helsinki better. Lassi Jalonen from Vuosaari is on a mission to save pollinators and other insects: his proposal replaces lawn areas with meadows.
Lassi Jalonen from Vuosaari does not like lawns.
“They are actually just green asphalt, with nothing growing on them or living in them. I can understand small lawns, but large areas do not make any sense,” he says.
Jalonen is an amateur entomologist. Every summer, he works part time on mapping nature and is involved in the lepidopterist association Suomen Perhostutkijain seura. It is because of insects that Jalonen has submitted proposals to OmaStadi in which lawn areas in the city are replaced with meadows.
OmaStadi is a direct influencing tool for residents of Helsinki: it is a form of participatory budgeting where residents can propose improvements to Helsinki. The proposals are then put to a vote, and the City implements the most popular proposals.
Jalonen’s proposals concerning meadows have advanced to the implementation phase. This summer, meadows and new vegetation areas will be established in e.g. the park area in Kurranummi and the Kottaraispuisto park. Later on, plants will be planted and meadows created in other areas as well.
Lassi Jalonen hopes to see wild plants on the future meadows.
“Different plants in the bellflower family, stonecrop, daisies, maiden pink and other carnations, viper’s bugloss. They grow in dry places, and some of them are low and others tall,” he lists.
Jalonen knows a lot about the benefits of meadows. In the daytime, they serve as excellent locations for day-active pollinators, such as bees, bumblebees and butterflies. If the plants are excellent honey plants, moths will be able to use them for nutrition at nights.
You can see plenty of green if you look at Helsinki from above. The city has good air quality and it is comfortable.
Jalonen admits that he prefers diverse urban nature. He lives in Vuosaari and is involved in the local Vuosaari-Seura association that runs Sannan Sauna located in Kallahti. In the winter, visitors to Sannan Sauna can go winter swimming, which is also thanks to OmaStadi.
Over the years, Jalonen has submitted OmaStadi proposals in his own and the Vuosaari association’s name. According to Jalonen, the OmaStadi process is easy. To him, developing urban nature begins with little things.
“When drafting my proposals, I think about how feasible they are. The best proposals clearly increase comfort or functionality for residents.”
Jalonen likes Vuosaari especially because it is so close to nature. His favourite places include the Vuosaarenhuippu area and the forested nature reserve in Mustavuori.
“Did you know that the Vuosaarenhuippu area is one of the largest steppe areas in Finland? There are far too few vast, dry and open areas in Finland.”
As a whole, Jalonen thinks that Helsinki is a lush city. He understands dense urban construction and points out that nature is never far away even in densely built areas.
Project Director Nina Mouhu is in charge of implementing OmaStadi projects associated with the urban environment. In recent years, OmaStadi proposals by the residents of Helsinki have included improvements concerned with biodiversity. The Urban Environment Division is in charge of planning and constructing approximately 30 OmaStadi projects with a total budget of more than six million euros.
So-called flower power projects will be implemented in places such as Kompassitori square, Kurkimäenpuisto park and Aino Ackté park.
“Until a few years ago, people favoured lawns. People no longer fear ticks; instead, they think that it is better to spend time surrounded by wilder and more diverse urban nature,” Mouhu says.
Diversity is one of the criteria for species selection in flower power projects: blooming fields, areas with perennial plants as well as sea buckthorn bushes and cherry trees requested by residents.
“This summer, a geese-free picnic area will also be created in Kaivopuisto as a temporary OmaStadi pilot. Residents have also submitted many proposals concerning the repair of urban streams,” Mouhu says.
On the whole, the City is investing in safeguarding biodiversity. It also has a dedicated action plan for the years 2021–2028.
“We are trying to increase diversity starting from land use to make the urban environment suitable for organisms and e.g. birds. It has been nice to see that the residents want the same things and we have been able to make them happen thanks to OmaStadi,” says Belinda Barbato.
Barbato designs and implements OmaStadi projects together with Mouhu. According to her, it is good that OmaStadi allows for temporary pilots as well as permanent solutions.
Proposals may also include events, hobbies and new activities for local residents.
When it comes to OmaStadi proposals, the sky is the limit. With regard to the urban environment, Mouhu and Barbato particularly hope for proposals for improving existing areas. Proposals concerning completely new areas often run into space constraints. There is no more room for full-size disc golf courses or skate parks, for example, on City land.
“We are especially pleased to receive proposals relating to the development of existing areas, such as making improvements to your local park,” Barbato says.
The renovation of Playground Tuhkimo in Roihuvuori is one of the projects that has received both OmaStadi funding and investment funding from the City. The park was designed together with the visual arts class at Porolahti Comprehensive School, local residents and skaters. The renovation was completed in autumn 2024.
Mouhu gives one last tip: “Proposals may also include events, hobbies and new activities for local residents.”
Text: Venla Seuri
