Parkano to reserve €75,000 for padel hall despite weak municipal finances

Parkano will set aside €75,000 in its 2027 budget to help build a padel hall next to the town sports complex, even as municipal finances remain strained, YLE reported.

Board documents warn the town is in a weak financial position and advise against new spending commitments, saying the grant and future operating costs would further strain the budget. Officials noted the sport currently attracts only a small group of players and that Parkano does not have an acute need for extra sports facilities. Still, the board voted to recommend support.

The project applicant, Padel Parkano ry, aims to raise a total of €250,000 from local businesses, private donors, the Säästöpankkisäätiö and a bank loan. The city approved a land lease for the site last week. At first, the municipality would use the hall's morning hours for school and elderly activities, with full operations intended to transfer to the city later.

Several padel hall companies have gone bankrupt in recent years even as participation in the sport continues to grow, a trend blamed in part on overbuilding during the boom period, YLE reported.