Park plans

The location of green areas in the urban structure and their general purpose of use are outlined in conjunction with the land-use planning. More detailed planning of the green areas starts when the areas or sites in question are included in the planning programme.  The planning and construction programmes are based on the city’s budget.

Who does and what?

Planner (Public Works Department)

Property owners affected by the planning are informed by letter or by a public announcement in the Länsiväylä newspaper about a resident event where the planner presents the draft plans. In the event, the participants can express wishes and comments related to the plan. A record is made of the participants and their feedback.

The resident event will be notified on the appropriate website two weeks before the event. The draft plan will be available for review and comments on the appropriate website before any decision is taken.

Who does and what?

Planners and interested parties

After the draft phase, the plan is, if necessary, revised based on the feedback received. The proposal will be finalised as plan documents.
The final version will be updated on the appropriate website.

Who does and what?

Planner

A significant plan for a public area, such as a park plan (worth over €500,000), is approved by the Technical Services Committee. The final protocol of the general area plan of the Technical Services Committee is sent by post to the interested parties. Appeals against the above-mentioned plans are heard as administrative appeals by the Helsinki Administrative Court (based on the Land Use and Building Act). Only the parties concerned have the right to appeal (Section 6 of the Administrative Judicial Procedure Act: Any person to whom a decision is addressed or whose right, obligation or interest is directly affected by a decision may appeal against the decision).

Other than significant public area plans, such as park plans worth less than EUR 500,000, are approved by the Public Works Department’s Street Manager. A decision document is drawn of the plan. The final protocol of the general area plan of the Street Manager is sent by post to the interested parties. The parties may lodge an appeal against the decision with the Technical Services Committee.

Who does and what?

Technical Services Committee or Street Manager

Nature and landscape management plans are based on extensive background material. The plans are prepared with consideration to the natural values, landscape sites, land use and cultural environments in the planning area. The city’s different administrative bodies (e.g. Environment Department, Sports Office, City Planning Department and City Museum) are involved in the preparation of the plans as members of the steering group.

When planning the city’s forest management, larger units are considered than just one forest, e.g. the outdoor exercise route, the lake shore area or the future green areas of a new area to be built. The natural terrain shapes and soil property variation are used to determine boundaries for the forest stands.

Residents and stakeholders can influence the content of the nature and landscape management plans. Involvement can be achieved through resident events, electronic surveys, map surveys, forest walks, site visits or workshops. The draft plan can be viewed on the city’s website (map service) and via the Public Works Department’s customer service. You can give feedback on the draft to the steering group of the planning project.

The plan is modified and finalised after the interaction phase and then presented to the Technical Services Committee. The City Planning Department’s permit preparer determines the need for permits for new plans for sites where forest management requires a permit for landscape work under the Land Use and Building Act.

The Technical Services Committee approves new nature and landscape management plans.