In 2025, the OmaStadi proposals have brought more outdoor exercise to Kalasatama, as well as a plan for a winter swimming spot.
OmaStadi is the City of Helsinki’s approach to participatory budgeting for the development of different areas, which is also evident in Kalasatama. Through OmaStadi, residents can submit proposals to improve the livability and services in their neighborhoods and vote on the proposals.
In participatory budgeting, all Helsinki residents over the age of 13 can both submit proposals and vote on ideas they want to see implemented in Helsinki and in their own neighborhood.
Participatory urban development
In OmaStadi, the city is divided into different areas, and Kalasatama belongs to Central Helsinki, which also includes, for example, Kallio, Pasila, Vallila, and Vanhankaupunki. Each area has been assigned a “city guide” who helps locals find the information and resources they need to develop their own neighborhood.
The city guide for Central Helsinki is Gritten Naams, whose role is to support and encourage locals to get involved in neighborhood development. Naams encourages Helsinki residents to actively voice their wishes to the city.
“At the proposal stage, you don’t need to know whether the ideas are feasible. You can leave the evaluation to the experts,” Gritten explains.
According to Naams, physical activity and green spaces, among other things, were themes that actively emerged in residents’ proposals. One significant project previously implemented in the Central Helsinki area was outreach substance abuse work, which led to the hiring of a nurse in the area from December 2022 to November 2024.
Outdoor exercise and a winter swimming spot in Kalasatama
Proposals made within the OmaStadi framework have led to the following in 2025 Outdoor exercise events in Kalasatamasuch as park workouts and outdoor gym sessions during the summer. A winter swimming spot is also currently being developed in the area, and plans for it are in the planning phase.
The winter swimming and sauna facility to be located in Kalasatama is, in terms of its size, one of the most significant OmaStadi projects, says project coordinator Oleg Jauhonenfrom the Sports Services division of the City of Helsinki’s Culture and Leisure Department.
According to the current schedule, the design of the winter swimming facility will take place in 2025 and construction in 2026. Sompasaari has been selected as the preliminary location, where, according to Jauhonen, water quality studies are currently underway. If the water quality proves to be sufficient, the project will move forward in Sompasaari.
“The planned swimming area will be a seawater pool similar to Allas Sea Pool, with a sauna located nearby,” Jauhonen explains, noting that the final concept is still being refined.
Developing areas throughout the city
Naams, who serves as a “Stadiluotsi,” hopes that residents of the fishing harbor will feel free to contact him or other city employees to discuss how to advance their “OmaStadi” ideas.
“You can get support from the city’s service centers to make your own proposals and find the right contacts,” he says.
The next proposal round will begin on September 22, 2025.
Information on proposals submitted by Helsinki residents, as well as projects that have progressed to the planning and implementation stages, can be viewed at on the OmaStadi website.
What is OmaStadi?
- The city’s approach to participatory budgeting
- Funded by the City’s Participation Fund (formerly the Suburban Fund), established in 2018
- Helsinki residents aged 13 and older have the opportunity to propose projects and vote on on how the city should spend 10 million euros during each two-year term
- The next round of proposals will take place from September 22 to October 5, 2025, and the voting round from March 11 to March 29, 2026
- Proposals are submitted via the OmaStadi website