Svante Olsson Playground

Where can you find Helsinki's newest playgrounds in summer 2025?

What is Helsinki's best playground? Where can you find a play park suitable for older children? And a playground close to the city center? Helsinki has over 200 playgrounds and just over 60 play parks. But do you know where to find one of Helsinki's newest playgrounds?

All Pienten Helsinki's playground tips can be found behind this link!

Helsinki has opened three renovated playgrounds during the summer of 2025: in Etu-Töölö the Museum Park playground (also known as the stone chips park), in Taka-Töölö the Linnankoski Park playground, and from Kaisaniemi Park the Svante Olsson playground, which this article discusses.

Svante Olsson playground is the first part of the renovated Kaisaniemi Park to be completed and is located between Railway Square and Unioninkatu. This fenced playground is not very large, but quite pleasant in the shade of large trees and certainly welcome on hot summer days. A play airplane, fun animal rides, a climbing frame, swings, and a sandbox digger make up a nice setup especially for younger children's play. For now the park is shining with newness and I believe only a few have found their way here.

*The highlight of Kaisaniemi Park's playground is a wonderful play airplane.*

*Svante Olsson playground's climbing frame is suitable for small children.*

*Kaisaniemi Park's playground is fenced and has a wood chip surface.*

*Svante Olsson playground is fenced and located right next to the Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden.*

*Svante Olsson playground's crane rocker is likely the only one in Helsinki.*

*Svante Olsson playground has various animal figures.*

The location close to the city center and train station is good, although at least before the renovation, Kaisaniemi Park was particularly restless in the evenings. Let's hope the renovated park attracts visitors and the disturbances calm down with it.

Next to the playground is a new garden complex (205 different plant species!), from which access opens during August to the Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden (the outdoor garden is free, there is an entrance fee for the greenhouses). Both gardens have nice spots for picnics.

Opposite the playground is Kaisaniemi Elementary School's renovated playground area, which has things to do for slightly older little ones. It just wasn't captured in photos due to rain, but we'll be back here again.

*Kaisaniemi Elementary School's playground is also renovated and the playground*
*offers activities for slightly older little ones.*

The playground next to Kaisaniemenkentä is now undergoing renovation and will be completed by 2028 at the latest.

But who was Svante Olsson, after whom the renovated playground was named?

Wikipedia was able to help! Svante Olsson (1856-1941) was a Swedish-born gardener who worked in Finland for a long time. He served as Helsinki's city gardener from 1889–1924. Svante's achievements are widely visible in Helsinki's parks, including in Kaisaniemi.

All of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips can be found behind this link!