The obstacles blocking the basketball stands will be removed on Wednesday, 23 July. In the future, playing on any fields or courts is recommended to take place between 7.00 and 22.00. The guidelines apply to different types of playing fields on school yards, parks and sports parks.
The opening hours of the playing fields are reviewed on a field-by-field basis. For example, if there is a service home next to the field, the recommended time to stop playing is 21.00, and accordingly, if there is no housing nearby, the game can continue until 23.00.
“Closing the basketball stands in the courtyards of Haaga Primary School and Haaga Comprehensive School was an overreaction on our part. We raise a hand to signal our error. At the same time, we take the feedback we receive about night-time noise seriously, and that is why we have now prepared guidelines for the use of playing fields,” says Mikko Ravantti, Deputy Head of the Urban Environment Division.
Signs will be added to playing fields
The city is looking for ways to curb the creation of night-time noise. Signs will be added to the game fields to instruct on the hours of play and on courtesy towards others.
Noise from playing and hanging out, as well as the related feedback, is a phenomenon that repeats every summer.
“The city alone cannot prevent disturbances at night, the help of city residents is needed. The use of playgrounds is permissible and desirable, but it is also necessary to take other people into account,” says Mikko Ravantti from the Urban Environment Division.
Different wishes for the use of urban space
City residents often have conflicting wishes for the use of the city's shared space, and efforts are being made to coordinate these wishes in the planning of the urban environment. In city that is becoming more compact, more attention must be paid to where different functions are placed. In the design of playgrounds and sports parks, noise nuisances can be reduced by placing certain functions further away from housing, for example. The planning work is also made more challenging by global warming. The design work of parks and playgrounds is preparing for the eventuality that people will start staying outdoors later than before.