Pienten Helsinki
Where are Helsinki's newest play parks and playgrounds located? In July-August 2024, a record number of renovated playgrounds and play parks are opening in Helsinki. Pientenhelsinki now introduces six brand new playgrounds and play parks as part of the playground series. This time, a virtual playground tour visits play parks in Maunula, Seppä and Rusthollari, as well as playgrounds in Sibelius Park, Loviseholmin Park and Töölölahti Summer Park.
Welcome to discover the new spirit of play – I promise this article will inspire you to go on a playground adventure!
Maunula Play Park
Maunula Play Park is located at Kuusikkotie 2a. It's just a few hundred meters from the tram stop (H0735 and H0734) and the bus stops at Pakilantie and Metsäpurontie.
Maunula Play Park is a versatile and well-thought-out space that caters to children of different ages, with a paddling pool and plenty of shaded areas. The renovated Maunula Play Park was a wonderful surprise and immediately made it onto Pientenhelsinki's background team's Top-5 playground list in Helsinki! A great detail is the bicycle fuel station located in the center of the playground for bikes and other park vehicles.
Check out more photos and atmosphere from Maunula playground here.
Seppä Play Park
Seppä Play Park in Punavuori at Sepänkatu 2 is easily accessible by trams 1 and 3 and the trunk line 20.
With its renovation, Seppä Play Park is clearly geared towards older children. That said, the little ones haven't been completely forgotten – Seppä has perhaps Helsinki's most beautiful sandbox as well as a few other play equipment suitable for small children. Located in the shadow of Agricola Church's tall tower, this play park is a valuable addition to the city center's playground offering and is worth visiting especially with slightly older children.
Beautiful old trees and a brand-new playground building are the assets of this play park. Also, the various, slightly more challenging playground equipment (trampoline!) and its location in relation to central Helsinki are reasons to visit Seppä Play Park.
Check out more photos and atmosphere from Seppä playground here.
Rusthollari Play Park
Rusthollari Play Park in Puotila is located a short walk from Puotila Metro Station.
Rusthollari Play Park in Puotila is a very traditional playground: an enclosed area for small children, a spacious play field in the center of the park that is partly shaded by trees, with activities for children of various ages. Rusthollari was clearly renovated with respect for the original landscape design. Some of the play equipment is old and restored, some is new. The yard has products from several play equipment suppliers. The theme of the yard is animals, with several wooden versions found there: sheep, horses and birds.
Check out more photos and atmosphere from Rusthollari playground here.
Sibelius Park Playground
You can reach Sibelius Park playground via buses 24 and 25, as well as on many other buses and trams that run through Tölö.
Sibelius Park's playground in Taka-Tölö, right next to the Sibelius Monument, is a surprisingly wonderful and successful playground. This playground is also clearly aimed at older children: the dominant element is an impressive and versatile climbing frame and a set of six swings. The park has retained some of its natural rock, otherwise the base consists of rubber surface and wood chips. The playground is very natural and blends well with the environment through its color scheme.
It's worth traveling here just for the playground!
Check out more photos and atmosphere from Sibelius Park playground here.
Loviseholmin Park Playground
Loviseholmin Park playground is a short walk from Kalasatama Metro Station. You can also reach it by the new tram line 13 (service begins 12.8.2024)
Loviseholmin playground in Sompasaari is built around one large swing structure. Around the yellow giant frame are placed nine different swings: traditional swings, baby swing, parent and child swing, basket swing, rotating gyro swing and so on. Some of the swings are on the fenced side. There are no other play equipment in this park, so all activity is based on swinging and waiting in line for swings. The park surrounding the playground is beautiful and you're unlikely to see a similar swing structure anywhere else.
Check out more photos and atmosphere from Loviseholmin Park playground here.
Töölölahti Summer Park Playground
Töölölahti Summer Park is located in central Helsinki, in the immediate vicinity of the Central Library Oodi, Finlandia Hall and the Music Center. The location is easily accessible by metro, train, buses and tram.
Töölölahti Summer Park's playground is a small part of a larger park area and consists mainly of wooden play equipment and small cottages on beautiful beach sand. The main attraction of Töölölahti Summer Park's play area is a small water play zone! Three water points on soft sand, plus in the park there are (still under construction fencing at the time of photography) a few water fountains that rise from the ground and can be adjusted. The absolute draw of the summer park's playground is its location in central Helsinki.
Check out more photos and atmosphere from Töölölahti Summer Park playground here.
Sneak Peek: Tuhkimo Park Playground
Update 22.8.2024: Tuhkimo Park playground is now open!
Follow the super-secret Sneak Peek to Tuhkimo playground in Roihuvuori, which is being completed during August!
This perhaps Helsinki's greenest playground (formerly Tuhkimo play park) has been in poor condition for years, but finally received a new opportunity with Oma Stadi funding. The playground will be completed during August, and construction of the skate and scooter park in the place of the former paddling pool will continue in autumn.
It looks great! Especially wonderful is that the old playground's Disney-themed totem was restored and the original atmosphere of the park was preserved. And that this park also has a zip line!
However, don't head to Tuhkimo just yet, as the park is still surrounded by construction fencing. I'll try to remember to tell you when the park is officially open! The photo was taken between the construction fences.
More playground tips from Helsinki can be found at Pientenhelsinki and
from other parts of Finland at Pientensuomi!
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