Iidesjärvi Park zoning plan for Nekala's south shore

The City of Tampere says the community committee approved the partial zoning plan on 9 June 2026, designating parts of Iidesjärvi and its adjacent shoreline as a nature reserve while reserving roughly 1.5 hectares for limited recreational facilities.

The decision follows a public display of the detailed plan from 20 February to 24 March 2026, which drew 59 objections and two authority statements. To preserve and strengthen biodiversity, plans for a dog park and extensive remediation of an old landfill were dropped to avoid disturbing valuable habitat. Instead, about 16.1 hectares on the southern shore will be kept in natural condition, with new facilities such as a nature-themed playground, fitness area, picnic and campfire spots and a birdwatching tower concentrated on previously disturbed ground.

Officials say the old landfill poses no significant health risk in its current use and will be left largely intact so its trees and the area's amphibian, bird and potential flying squirrel populations remain. The plan includes invasive-species control, roughly 300 new trees and shrubs and meadow restoration. Lighting at the playground will be bat-friendly and switched off from 22:00 to 06:00, and the main walking and cycling route will follow existing paths, with boardwalks in the wettest sections.

A new bird tower will replace the current mat-washing area and share a parking space, while the mat-washing site itself will be moved slightly north. The aim is to concentrate recreational use on already disturbed areas while protecting valuable habitats.