The City of Helsinki is planning to name a park section in Ratsaspuisto park (‘Equestrian park’) as Mannerheim-ristin ritareiden aukea (‘Knights of the Mannerheim Cross clearing’). The name of Ratsaspuisto park will be formalised at the same time.
Ratsaspuisto park in Ruskeasuo was built according to the park plan of the Helsinki city gardener Bengt Schalin (1889–1982) in the late 1950s. The name Ratsaspuisto has been used unofficially since the 1960s at the latest, but the name has not been formalised until now.
The official decision to name the park Ratsaspuisto park is to be taken in the early autumn. At the same time, a park section in the area will be named Mannerheim-ristin ritareiden aukea, or Knights of the Mannerheim Cross clearing. The name is to commemorate all the recipients of the Mannerheim Cross of Liberty born in Helsinki.
The naming is based on council initiatives that have called for the Knights of the Mannerheim Cross to be honoured in Helsinki place names.
During the Continuation War and after the wars, twelve Helsinki residents were awarded the Mannerheim Cross of Liberty. The distinguished honour could be awarded regardless of military rank for exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations.
The city’s place name committee has investigated suitable places to honour the Knights of the Mannerheim Cross and found the equestrian-themed Ratsaspuisto park suitable for the purpose. Near the park there are several buildings with military history, such as the former Tilkka central military hospital completed in 1936, the Asuntoyhteistalo/Naistentalo (Community/Women’s House) building built for former Lotta volunteers in the early 1950s, as well as public buildings originally built for the rehabilitation and training of disabled veterans.
Shortly after the Second World War, there were plans to name streets in the Ruskeasuo area after themes from the Winter War but, in the end, it was decided to select names from other topics. The equestrian theme of Ratsaspuisto park derives from the nearby Ratsastie (‘Equestrian road’) named for the Olympic indoor riding arena completed in Ruskeasuo in 1940.
The official naming of the park and clearing will not affect the street addresses in use in the area.
More information:
Location map and other preparatory material(Link leads to external service) (in Finnish)
Image: © Helsingin kaupunki, Anu Hämäläinen