Pori reaches agreement on major investments including library renovation and new indoor sports venue

Pori’s political groups have agreed on a multi-million-euro investment plan that includes renovating the city’s main library and constructing a combined indoor sports and event facility on the site of the old bus station, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The deal, negotiated over the past week and finalized in a seven-hour meeting on Sunday, also covers renovations to the youth center and plans for a museum collections hub. City council chair Krista Kiuru (SDP) estimates the agreement has broad support, with around 50 of the 59 council members backing the proposal.

The main library renovation is set to begin by 2027, with a focus on addressing long-standing indoor air quality issues, according to city board chair Mikael Ropo (NCP). The new indoor sports and event center will be built on the former bus station site in the city center, with construction slated to start by early 2027. Parking solutions will be integrated into the project to address earlier concerns about capacity.

The youth center renovation will follow within five to ten years, aligning with the facility’s remaining operational lifespan. The museum collections hub will be developed later, though immediate measures will secure storage for critical items. Priority will be given to repurposing existing city-owned properties for the hub.

The agreement will be presented to the city council for approval in an extraordinary meeting on June 15.