Lapland villages turn troublesome motorhome stops into profitable parking areas

Several village associations in Finnish Lapland have turned difficult-to-manage informal parking areas into profitable motorhome parking sites, Yle reports. In Madetkoski, a village in Sodankylä, the change has reduced problems including human waste, rubbish, wastewater and the burning of firewood belonging to local residents.

The Madetkoski bus stop had previously been used as an informal parking area without services. Travellers used the surrounding nature as a toilet, discharged wastewater into waterways and burned wood from the village’s shared campfire shelter.

Village association chair Virpi Kumpula said the area was cleared of bushes two summers ago. This reduced places where people could hide and encouraged visitors to use the proper toilet facilities.

This summer, the village added two large tanks for emptying wastewater from motorhomes. A lock was also installed on the woodshed, keeping the villagers’ firewood secure.

The improvements were funded through Leader support. Kumpula said the area has become considerably cleaner.

Parking fees bring in about 1,000 euros

The overnight fees also support the village association’s activities. Madetkoski can have more than 20 vehicles staying overnight on its busiest nights, and the association earned about 1,000 euros from the site last season, Kumpula said.

Johanna Mikkola, executive director of Northernmost Lapland Leader, described Madetkoski as a good example of how a local nuisance can be turned into a local benefit.

“It was a wild parking area that, at its worst, caused problems from human waste in the surrounding environment. With a fairly small investment, the negative effects were addressed,” Mikkola said.

Renovating the parking area cost just under 30,000 euros. Mikkola said there are still too few motorhome parking sites in Lapland’s villages, although the situation is improving.

Caravaners want more services

Mikko Kivekäs, executive director of SF Caravan, an umbrella organisation for caravanners, said Finland has a major shortage of motorhome parking sites.

“For example, in Norway, rest areas offer paid services for caravanners, and Finnish caravanners use them very gladly,” Kivekäs said.

He said caravanners would like to see more similar services in Finland. According to Kivekäs, maintained motorhome parking sites do not cause the same environmental problems as unmanaged informal parking areas.

More sites opening in remote villages

Tennilä, a remote village in Rovaniemi, has also been pleased with its motorhome parking site. The Tennilä youth association, which promotes the village’s interests, converted the village hall into a parking site a few years ago.

“Although the income is modest, the activity here is growing,” said Nina Kiviniemi, secretary of the Tennilä youth association.

Fourteen travellers used the site in its first year. This year, the number has risen to more than 30.

Motorhome parking sites offer services such as electricity and water. Informal parking areas do not. The sites charge a fee but are cheaper than, for example, campsites. They can be operated by independent organisations such as village associations, and overnight places are marketed through the Matkaparkki online application, which receives part of the income.

The Madetkoski site is next to the Kitinen river.