This summer, outdoor exercise classes will be held in Kalasatama, and plans are underway for a future swimming area as part of the OmaStadi projects.
OmaStadi—the City of Helsinki’s initiative to involve residents in the planning of different areas—is once again taking place in Kalasatama this year. OmaStadi projects are based on residents’ own proposals, which are then voted on by Helsinki residents. The purpose of participatory budgeting is to promote dialogue between the city and its residents.
Winter Swimming and Park Workouts
Oleg Jauhonen, Special Planner for the City of Helsinki says that the Kalasatama winter swimming spot project is moving forward, and planning work is scheduled to begin after the summer vacation season. One factor that could potentially slow down the process is the application for a zoning change, which may take a long time.
Last year, water quality studies related to the project were conducted, and the results proved to be good. “However, we still need to consider how the swimming area will be prepared for conditions caused by heavy rains, for example,” says Jauhonen.
According to Jauhonen, additional funding may be sought for the project to ensure the swimming area is built to a sufficient scale and quality. In addition to the year-round swimming area, the site will include a sauna, and a contractor will be selected through a competitive bidding process to manage the sauna and swimming operations as the work progresses. The site selected for the swimming area is a waterfront lot, a former pool area known as the Hanasaari Pool.
In addition to the swimming area, Kalasatama will host events open to everyone Park Workouts in Summer 2026 As part of the OmaStadi project. The exercise sessions will take place from June through August on Wednesdays and Thursdays, weather permitting. They will be held on the artificial turf field between Arielinkatu and Polariksenkatu.
New proposals for the Central District
Kalasatama is part of the Central District, which also includes Kallio, Alppiharju, and Pasila. In addition to the ongoing Kalasatama projects, there have been calls for more outdoor fitness areas, improved cleanliness, and more greenery along streets and in underutilized spaces in the Central District.
You can view current projects and proposals in the Central District at on the City of Helsinki website. In 2026, the projects will be in the development phase, and their implementation is scheduled for the fall.
The next proposal phase is currently scheduled for fall 2027. At that time, city residents will once again have the opportunity to submit their own ideas for developing their neighborhoods. Gritten Naams will serve as the project leader for the central area. She encourages residents of Kalasatama to reach out to the city’s service centers if they want support in promoting their own ideas and to make suggestions in a low-threshold manner.