The City of Helsinki will build a new sand-covered route, Stansvikinpolku trail, at Kruunuvuorenranta.
When the Stansvikinpolku trail is completed, it will provide pedestrians and cyclists a safer route from Koirasaarentie to Stansvik manor park. Currently, pedestrians and cyclists access the manor park through a narrow, unlit road that also has vehicle traffic.
The construction of the Stansvikinpolku trail is being prepared this winter by felling trees from the route. These works will take a total of a few days and are scheduled to start in December. The actual construction work will be carried out in 2025.
Construction suspended in 2021
The area around Stansvik Manor is one of the most significant recreational areas at Kruunuvuorenranta. One of the goals of the construction of the Stansvikinpolku trail is the protection of the surrounding nature: the trail is designed to cater for the growing number of pedestrians and cyclists at Kruunuvuorenranta and to prevent the wear and tear of vegetation outside the trail.
The construction of the Stansvikinpolku trail was already due to begin in autumn 2021, together with the construction and renovation of other trails, a parking area and Stansvikintie. At that time, the city suspended the preparation of the construction work because of appeals. According to the appeals, the construction of trails and a parking area would have been detrimental to the natural values of the area.
The appeals have since been dismissed by the Administrative Court, and the construction of the Stansvikinpolku trail can be continued. Appeals were also dismissed for other trails, but it is currently unclear when and to what extent the city will continue to build them.
Old trail to be incorporated as part of the new route
The construction of the Stansvikinpolku trail is based on street and park plans approved in 2019. At the northern end, the new trail follows the former road line, which already runs as a forest path to the south from Koirasaarentie.
The trail will be implemented with the aim of saving save as much trees as possible when adapting the route to the terrain. Tree trunks are also left in the terrain to form deadwood. The contract will have no effect on old oaks, for example, for which the manor area is known.
After completion, the Stansvikinpolku trail will be illuminated so that the lights turn on when people move around the area. The lights are switched off during the summer season so they will not disturb the bats living in the area.
