Korpivaara appeals to Hämeenlinna Administrative Court over Hippos project in Jyväskylä

A recent appeal by Päivi Korpivaara, a deputy member of the Jyväskylä city council, has become a hot topic in the city. Over the weekend, Korpivaara announced she filed a complaint with the Hämeenlinna Administrative Court regarding the leasing agreement for the Hippos project. According to project manager Ville Niskakanta, this could jeopardize the entire construction of the new sports center.

Korpivaara has reported receiving threats and abusive messages following her appeal, which has been acknowledged by Yle, a Finnish news organization. “I knew there would be some backlash from the sports community for a few days. I am keeping a low profile and taking it easy,” said Korpivaara, who has no intention of withdrawing her complaint. She emphasized the need for the reasons behind her appeal to be considered, asserting that the project far exceeds the city’s resources.

Korpivaara expressed readiness to accept responsibility if her appeal leads to the demolition of the Hippos project. She proposes building a facility for the training ice rink, which suffers from poor indoor air quality, on top of the railway yard’s roof; however, no decisions have been made regarding this covering.

In response to the implications of the appeal, Jyväskylä Mayor Timo Koivisto stated, “It’s hard to say if the Hippos project will collapse, but it will at least be delayed by a minimum of six months. It definitely jeopardizes funding negotiations, particularly for the competence center.”

The Hämeenlinna Administrative Court confirmed they received the appeal, which typically takes about ten months to process. Each complaint is treated with the same seriousness, regardless of who files it.