Oulu opens park designed to last until 2028

Oulu completed a temporary pop up park beside its railway station in July, Yle reports. The park is expected to be dismantled in 2028, when a pedestrian and cycling tunnel is planned for the site.

The park was built on land where old buildings belonging to VR, Finland’s railway company, were demolished. The centrally located area was refurbished for Oulu’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2026.

“We tried to get it into shape for the European Capital of Culture year with as little money as possible, so that it could withstand public scrutiny until the area’s permanent construction begins,” said Juha Isoherranen, project manager for the railway station area at the City of Oulu.

The park includes trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, meadow and lawn. It was designed as a microforest experiment, with the aim of creating rich ecosystems in a small space. A bicycle parking facility is also being built next to the park and will remain permanently.

Costs a fraction of a conventional park

The construction costs amount to tens of thousands of euros, Isoherranen said. Most of the expense comes from the work involved, while items such as benches can later be reused elsewhere.

Other temporary uses for the area were considered, including parking for people dropping off and picking up passengers and a lawn. The park was chosen because it was viewed as both the most pleasant and the most practical option. Visitors can spend time there while waiting for trains, and a route through the park leads directly to the railway platform.

The railway station area is set for extensive redevelopment in the coming years. Plans include an entertainment arena, shops, a hotel, office buildings, apartment blocks and a long-awaited transport centre. Traffic arrangements will also change significantly. Planning for the area is still under way, and construction is expected to continue well into the 2030s.

Preliminary planning for the pedestrian and cycling tunnel has only just begun. Isoherranen said the temporary park improves the comfort and appeal of an otherwise unfinished area, where maintaining a pleasant environment can be particularly difficult during large construction projects.