Our Park

Our Park is part of the Participatory Espoo development programme, which is linked to the Espoo Story. The initial aim was to find a new way of doing things together. This led to the creation of the Our Park concept, that has gathered active residents since 2014. The concept combines residents’ wishes for an improved local environment with the possibility to participate in maintenance activities without creating significant additional costs for the city. To date, over a hundred Our Park maintenance permits have been granted across Espoo.

Some maintenance areas have been marked with a physical Meidän puisto (“Our Park”) signs (the signs are in Finnish and Swedish). All areas are also marked in the online Map service(external link, opens in a new window) (to view them, on the top left choose "Select what information is shown on the map" and from there click on "Streets and parks" and click on "Meidän puisto". The areas are marked in red). There is a wide variety of sites from few metre long strips to areas covering several hundreds of square metres. The initiative also supports the goals of the Nature-wise Espoo Roadmap, which emphasises biodiversity and sustainability.

You may, for example, clear small trees, remove invasive species, cut grass and reeds near your home. Under the Our Park project, the clearing of trees is limited to brushwood that can be cut with loppers. You can also sow an urban meadow or, in some cases, grass in your area if it is suitable for it and you have permission to do so.

Permits are not granted for the purpose of extending a private yard area into a city park. Plantings are allowed only if you have permission to do so. So, only if you have delivered a planting plan in your application and it has been approved alongside the maintenance permit. For example, growing an urban meadow is encouraged and possible but it must be stated in the permit application. If you do not get permission for plantings then you are not allowed to plant anything into your maintenance area.

All forms of ‘unauthorised spreading’ from private land to city land are prohibited. This includes adding plants and structures, taking over other areas or storing items outside of your plot alongside extending yard areas. For example, fences, waste containers, trampolines, wood piles, building materials, playhouses and trailers must be kept on your plot not the city’s parks. Structures include flowerbeds, and fences, including green fences as well as wooden and metallic ones. You are not allowed to place these in your area.

The key principle is that the maintenance areas must remain available to all residents for recreational use. Permit holders cannot restrict access.

You are not allowed to carry out maintenance activities in city-owned land without a permit. Permits are always given in writing, and they include the related conditions and a map of the area in question. The permit also specifies the responsible persons.

The permit is given for two years, after which you can renew it if both sides, the city and the applicant, allow it. The permit itself does not obligate the resident to do anything, but allows them to do maintenance work in the city’s land. Each permit is unique as maintenance activities suitable for one area may be damaging in another. Usually, the content of the permit is based on the applicant’s wishes on what they want to do in the area and whether that is possible or not. All maintenance activities are based on the city’s plan concerning the use of a specific area. The city’s aim in terms of the project is to achieve more without increasing the costs. Hence, the costs of the maintenance are primarily covered by the volunteers themselves.

The goals and actions set in the Nature-wise Espoo roadmap also influence the Our park initiative. The permit holder must respect the natural values of the area. For example, excessive clearing weakens natural values and therefore it should be avoided. Our goal is to maintain biodiversity and encourage volunteers involved in the initiative to acknowledge things like the benefits meadows and rotten wood provide to various organisms. It is also vital to acknowledge the damages caused by invasive species and the basics on how to control them. More information on the Nature wise Espoo roadmap can be found here: Nature-wise Espoo and on controlling invasive species here: Invasive species.

If you want to take care of your local area, you can suggest it through our online system(external link, opens in a new window)(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish and Swedish). Choose “Yleisten alueiden luvat” (public area permits) and log in to the system. All permits are handled through the online system. You can get more information about the initiative by sending an email to meidanpuisto@espoo.fi.

In your application, tell us what you would like to do, include pictures and mark the area on the map. Then, we will together agree on the principles of cleaning and maintaining the area. For example, private residents, organisations or building societies can apply a permit. Though please note that if the area in question is adjacent to a housing cooperative, the permit must be applied for on behalf of the housing cooperative as the applicant must have procuration.

Permit applications are handled a few times a year in the Our park executive committee’s meetings. The committee is comprised of experts from the public works department and the head of the public works department has the decision-making power in these matters. Permit applicants will always receive a written verdict as their proposal has been handled.