Töölönlahdenpuisto Park

Park location

Töölönlahdenpuisto Park is located east of Finlandia Hall and Villa Hakasalmi, and ends, in the east, at Töölönlahdenkatu and in the north at the Töölönlahti bay shore. The park between Musiikkitalo and Oodi is called Makasiinipuisto. Töölönlahdenpuisto Park covers a total area of 8.8 hectares. 

Karamzininranta

Karamzininranta is a street between Töölönlahdenpuisto and Finlandia Hall.

The Karamzininranta area will largely become a park-like square, respecting the prestige of the surroundings of Finlandia Hall. Going forward, Karamzininranta and the surroundings of Finlandia Hall will be more seamlessly connected to Töölönlahdenpuisto Park.

A significant part of the paved area of Karamzininranta will be converted into a planting area for shrubs, flowers and deciduous trees. The vegetation will be diverse, rich in species and designed to support pollinators. Between the planting areas, there will be lawns of various sizes, and benches will be placed around the edges. The street area will be equipped with litter bins, bicycle racks and a city bike station.

At the southern end of Karamzininranta, an extended footpath and cycle path will be built parallel to Töölönlahdenkatu. The alignment of the cycle path and crossing safety will be improved at the Töölönlahti end of the street.

The redevelopment of Karamzininranta will begin in late June. The project will last until July 2027, but the seating area on the Töölönlahti side of the street will be open from 2027 onwards.

Current news from the worksite

From idea and concept plan to park plan

There is a need to update the current park plan of the area. The previous park plan was rejected and returned to the preparation stage in 2014, and in 2016, the City implemented the current, temporary park. 

The basis for the new park plan will be a general idea and concept plan, which outlines the principles around plant life and functional development. The starting point of the plan is to maintain the main features and natural value of the current park. The idea and concept plan for Töölönlahdenpuisto Park started with a resident survey and workshops with businesses and associations in the area in early 2024. It was possible to comment on the material of the idea and concept plan through a Voice your Opinion survey in June 2024.

Work on the park plan will begin in autumn 2024, based on the idea and concept plan. The park plan will include further details on the longer-term development. It will also be possible to provide further feedback on the park drafts during the actual park planning stage. The park plan drafts will also be published at hel.fi/suunnitelmat, under Street and park plans. Construction schedules will be decided later. 

We also have shorter-term development plans for Töölönlahdenpuisto Park, which can improve the its appearance and accessibility sooner. These measures aim at improving the park with a variety of plant life as well as trials of different functional areas and structures. We will monitor these trials and make use of the observations in further planning of the park. 

Online survey regarding Töölönlahti in 2019

A great deal of requests on improving Töölönlahti Park have, and continue to come in. In 2018-2019, we opened an online survey for residents, asking for their opinions on how to develop the Töölönlahti bay area. The survey responses focused on maintaining and developing the park-like green oasis as well as safeguarding and providing natural peace and experiences. People also wanted better use of the water elements, café activities, art, and community events. 

Developing the Töölönlahti area

Töölönlahti is a popular recreation area for residents and visitors alike. There are currently various planning and renovation projects ongoing in the area. 

New park plans are in preparation for the Hesperianpuisto and Hakasalmenpuisto Park areas. The drafts for these plans will be presented to the public in early 2024. Additionally, plans for the renovation of the Hesperia esplanade, west of Mannerheimintie, are also underway.

Preparations for a new zone plan in the Linnunlaulu area are beginning soon, with the intent of protecting the villa and park grounds as well as improving the accessibility of the parks. An outdoor gym area is being planned at the corner of Linnunlauluntie and Helsinginkatu.

There is also an ongoing investigation into establishing a natural preserve and green zone at Töölönlahti, which is based on a municipal initiative. 

Some of the projects in the Töölönlahti area are already being implemented. The Finlandia Hall renovation will be completed and the Hall will be opened to public in January 2025. The large-scale renovation of Mannerheimintie will be completed in 2025. Over on the other side of the tracks, the renovation of Kaisaniemenpuisto Park has begun, which aims to develop the area into a cosy and event-capable park. The Kaisantunneli tunnel, which connects the two sides, will open next spring.