Meri-Rastila will undergo an extensive urban renewal. With the change, infill construction will be introduced in the area for new and also a few existing plots. Some of the new residential buildings will replace the buildings to be demolished. At the same time, the area’s parks, squares and transport connections will be improved. Street planning covers the western part of Meri-Rastila, which is about half of the entire urban renewal area. Street planning for the eastern part will be launched at a later stage. The improvements can be viewed through the now available street and park plans.
The goal of the renewal is to revitalise old residential areas by focusing on refurbishing streets and parks, introducing new buildings and developing services. The surroundings of Meri-Rastila square will change with the possible construction of a new multi-purpose building and the demolition of the shopping centre and the construction of a new one. Infill construction is based on the current local detailed plan and is estimated to begin no earlier than 2027. In total, the implementation will take more than a decade.
Improved pleasantness and new access routes to the area through street renovation
The safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be improved by building one-way bicycle paths and clarifying intersection areas. A few new streets are also planned for the area, such as Levankikuja, Jaluskuja and Fokkapolku. In some streets, such as Prammikuja, the length of the street will increase.
Green lanes and planting areas will be built along the streets, which will increase the area’s pleasantness, biodiversity and adaptability to heavy rainfall, for example. Flowering trees, new seating areas and new lighting will be introduced at Fokkatori. Meri-Rastila square will be significantly improved with new seating areas, new vegetation, sea-themed equipment and mist showers.
Haruspuisto diversified to serve users of different ages
In the future, the number of users of Haruspuisto will increase due to the growing number of inhabitants in the area. The park’s functionalities will be improved by adding sports, seating and play areas for users of different ages.
A new playground, seating area, multi-purpose field and dog park will be built in the park. In addition, the park will have an exercise area and a ballpark area with basketball baskets. The current skate park will be renovated and extended. The aim is to increase the sense of security in the park through lighting and route planning. The functions will be placed in flat and open areas of the park, so the existing trees can be preserved as much as possible. According to preliminary estimates, the renovation of the park will begin next year.
Give feedback in the survey and a public event
City residents can give feedback on street and park plans by responding to a survey (Link leads to external service) between 29 May and 18 June 2024. The plans are presented in the survey using illustrative videos and plan maps. The materials and the survey are in Finnish and can be accessed through the project website at hel.fi/meri-rastilan-suunnittelu
Draft plans will be presented to the public at an online event on 11 June 2024 from 5 pm to 7 pm. City residents can participate in the discussion and ask questions via the chat and by asking to speak. A link to joining the event can be found at the web page hel.fi/asukastilaisuudet(Link leads to external service)
