Finland’s 12th national urban park in Tampere
On 29 May, Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala signed a decision of the Ministry of the Environment on the establishment of the Tampere National Urban Park. The National Urban Park extending from the national landscape of Tammerkoski rapid to lake shores and several districts of the city combine the characteristic landscapes and built environment of Tampere.
The unique features of the Tampere National Urban Park complement the network of national urban parks. The landscape shaped by the Ice Age and the isthmus between the two lakes connected by Tammerkoski rapid offered an opportune setting for the development of industry and the urban environment. At the heart of the National Urban Park are the parks and red brick factory buildings on the shores of Tammerkoski rapid. From the city centre the area expands as a chain of parks to several districts, following the shorelines of Lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. The best-known districts are Pyynikki and Pispala ridges and their buildings and the extensive green areas of Kauppi.
Tampere cherishes biodiversity and cultural heritage
A national urban park means an area within an urban environment that is composed of valuable cultural and natural landscapes and recreation areas. The aim of national urban parks is to preserve urban nature and built cultural environments as an extensive and integrated whole. The area is preserved and developed in a way that cherishes and strengthens the particular values of its nature and cultural heritage.
Tampere has successfully preserved and strengthened the values of the landscape, varied natural environment and built cultural environment. At the same time, the city has created new green and recreational connections on shores released from industrial to public use.
“The decision to establish the Tampere National Urban Park supports sustainable urban planning. This also contributes to better wellbeing and comfort for residents in a green urban environment with identifiable historical features,” Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala says.
A city that wishes to designate an area as a national urban park applies for this, and the decision on its establishment is made by the Ministry of the Environment. The decision on the establishment of the Tampere National Urban Park was based on the application of the city of Tampere updated on 15 April 2025.
Inquiries:
Annu Tulonen
Senior Specialist
tel. +358 295 250 235
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