Trial seating on Hallituskatu and Pyynikintori prompts calls for more plants, benches and shade

Residents who took part in summer 2026 trials of temporary youth-designed seating and public-space installations on Hallituskatu and Pyynikintori said they want more plants, benches and places to stop, the City of Tampere found.

The trials built on the city's June to September project that transformed parking spaces into temporary green rest areas the parking-bay pop-up green oases and on a later installation of seating islands and planters that sparked debate online the pop-up seating islands and planters.

A total of 109 people answered the surveys: 71 for Pyynikintori and 38 for Hallituskatu. Most reached the areas on foot, 82% on Hallituskatu and 68% on Pyynikintori. Pyynikintori users reported higher public transport use, 55%, with 28% by car and 20% by bike. Hallituskatu respondents used cars more, 32%, and bikes less, 11%.

Age groups differed. Hallituskatu responses came mainly from people aged 20–29, 30–39 and 60–69; Pyynikintori responses clustered in 40–49, 50–59 and 15–19 year olds.

Most people rated the trials positively, with 71% on Hallituskatu and 58% on Pyynikintori giving scores of 4 or 5. Average ratings were 3.9 and 3.4 respectively. Many want more similar experiments, about three quarters on Hallituskatu and 62% on Pyynikintori.

Open responses stressed the same priorities for both sites: more plants, flowers and trees, extra seating and shady spots. Hallituskatu respondents asked for wider walking and cycling space and traffic calming. Pyynikintori respondents asked for events, market stalls, water points and gentle, neighborhood-friendly programming.

Parking divided opinion. Some want fewer kerbside spaces to expand green and pedestrian areas, while others, especially near Pyynikintori, consider resident parking essential.

The feedback will be used in future work guided by the city board's April 2026 Central traffic system plan. That plan steers downtown projects and area planning for the next ten years, aiming to improve safety, walkability and overall livability.