Thousands of Espoo residents reached by urban planning – communications and interaction of 2024 wrapped up
Espoo is changing rapidly, and its residents are interested in urban planning. In 2024, the City Planning Department reached out to Espoo residents, especially to participate in the My Espoo on the Map survey and to take a look at the draft master plan available for public review. Individual detailed plans also attracted the interest of residents.
The City Planning Department provides up-to-date information and opportunities to participate in the planning processes. Information is provided, for example, on the City of Espoo website, at residents’ events and through recordings as well as via social media. The Have Your Say Now newsletter, which compiles the most important information and opportunities to influence, continued to gain subscribers.
In 2024, we published 46 news and press releases, 23 newsletters, 32 new plan pages and 58 plans available for public review. In addition, we organised 35 events, 11 of which were on master plans and the rest on detailed plans. We engaged with more than 3,700 people face-to-face or via remote events.
The My Espoo on the Map survey was responded to by around 5,000 Espoo residents, nearly 1,800 of whom were children and young people. In the survey, Espoo residents marked on a map places that are important to them or which should be developed. The results will be utilised in urban planning for many years to come.
The draft Espoo Master Plan 2060 was available for residents to review in the summer of 2024. Around 900 people participated in the series of events held on it, and the recording of the remote event was viewed 1,000 times. A total of 1,500 official opinions were also received on the draft plan.
On average, 2–3 events were held per month during 2024. New forms of interaction included a course on urban planning organised in cooperation with the Espoo Adult Education Centre and an exhibition in cooperation with KAMU Espoo City Museum.
In 2024, efforts were made to involve children, young people and people with an immigrant background
The voice of each resident is not heard as loudly. For this reason, in 2024, Espoo’s urban planning paid special attention to reaching children, young people and people with an immigrant background.
During 2024, we met foreign-language Espoo residents, especially through our cooperation with educational institutions and networking. We organised lessons with Omnia and showcased urban planning and the My Espoo on the Map survey at Omnia, family centres and meetings with immigrant organisations. In addition, we took part in two Hello Espoo events and a walk for immigrants in the area, where we talked about urban planning and encouraged people to participate. During the year, we reached a total of 800 residents with an immigrant background.
In 2024, we put a lot of effort into involving children and young people by visiting lessons and youth centres, presenting important plans to the Espoo Youth Council and holding workshops. We also collected children’s and young people’s responses to the My Espoo on the Map survey and their views on the draft Espoo Master Plan 2060 through an education pack sent to schools. During the year, we reached more than 2,700 children and young people.