In Finland Land Use and Building Act requires dweller’s possibility to participate in land use-, green area and street planning. Earlier, the interactive planning activated only the already active people, not the
children, elderly people, immigrants or youth.

The project improves public city places, involving the inhabitants of the area. Inhabitants are encouraged to participate in the project by direct input in the project plan and in the concrete creation and improvement of public spaces.

The aim of the Living Cityspace project is to improve public city spaces and green areas of Vantaa City’s eastern neighbourhoods with a high risk of social isolation together with inhabitants. The project focused on the following issues:

The first objective of the Living Cityspace was to make especially real use groups of outdoor spaces participate in a planning stage as well in preparation of implementation- the user groups are those who are not the most active participants on their own initiative. This is done by developing new functional research methods of dweller co-operation and dweller-initiated planning.

281 inhabitants were involved in project with children and youth. 14 public meetings have been held (2003-April 2004), and about 600 inhabitants have participated in them. Living cityspace organised 4 exhibitions and the press published several stories of it’s work.

Perspectives seems to be promising. A large amount of plans can be constructed, research work can be used in landuse, green and street areas (planning, constructing, maintenance).

Total costs were 0.5 million euros, tot which the EU contributed 0.135 million euros.

City of Vantaa, Land use and Environmental Department
Leino Aino, tel. +358 9 839 226 32

//2000

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Citizens' participation