Parking bays at Pyynikintori and Hallituskatu transformed into pop-up green oases

The City of Tampere says parking spaces at Pyynikintori and Hallituskatu will be turned into temporary green rest areas from June through September.

At Pyynikintori six parking bays will be replaced with ten wooden planter-benches and large plant pots. Hallituskatu will take over two spaces. It will include two concrete benches, medium-sized planters and painted asphalt.

According to Tamperelainen, the pop-up trials build on wider calls within the City Council to add trees and other greenery along streets and in city-owned parking areas. The paper reports a motion led by Green Party councillor Julia Sangervo and signed by 40 councillors, with pilot suggestions including Nalkalankatu and Nääshalli.

Tamperelainen adds that the motion aims to tackle heat-island impacts, pointing to residents’ experiences of summer heat near large asphalt parking areas. The report also references recent tree removals in Viinikankankatu tied to the University Tunnel construction, and argues that planting trees on parking sites could provide shade, cool the surroundings and help retain stormwater, while also supporting biodiversity and residents’ wellbeing.

The ideas come from upper secondary students who entered the 2025 "Ideate new uses for parking" competition. The trials aim to showcase young people’s visions for greener, art-filled public space and to boost youth participation in planning.

Young Tampere residents aged 15–29 are invited to help create the spaces. Painting events are scheduled for June 15 and 17 from 13:00 to 16:00, with rain dates on June 22 and 24.

The exercises and earlier workshops show that young people critique current space use and imagine greener, community-focused streets, Juntunen says. The Street Art Office will supply materials and guidance. The pop-ups run until September. Afterwards the furniture will be removed and the areas cleaned.

The Mobility Mindshift project, run by the City of Tampere with Tredu, local upper secondary schools and Tampere University, is funded by the EU Horizon Europe programme.