Parks

Photo: Banks of River Aurajoki from the Auransilta Bridge (PDF) 

The historical trees along the river are part of the nationally significant national landscape of the River Aurajoki. The rows of deciduous trees planted on the banks of the river form a pleasant walking path.  

The section between the Cathedral Bridge and the Auransilta Bridge is the oldest part of the avenue. It was planted in the 1830s. The trees are mainly European lime with a few individual wych elms.  

The youngest section of the avenue is part of the historical Esplanadi designed by Engel. It starts from the Auransilta Bridge and ends on the port side of the Martinsilta Bridge.  

The trees and shrubs from the Cathedral Bridge upstream to Tuomaansilta Bridge are mainly wild. 

The first preserved trees were planted by widow Wahlgren and pharmacist Julin 

Widower Maria Wahlgren and pharmacist Erik Julin planted the first preserved trees on the riverbank in the 1830s. The city started planting trees in 1840 when the city magistrate made a decision to purchase 100 European lime trees from Germany. However, the ship carrying the trees was shipwrecked on the way. New trees to replace the sunken ones arrived in 1842, and the planting work could continue.  

The eastern Esplanadi, i.e. the row of trees downstream of the River Aurajoki, was planted on Itäinen Rantakatu in 1861, extending roughly from the city theatre to Sotalaistenkatu. In the 1920s, trees on the riverbank were replaced due to decay. The history of flowerbeds dates back to the 1950s, when the first flowers were planted along the river. 

Special features: 

• The trees on the riverbank have been managed through many methods that have since been proven useless. Weak trees were reinforced with threaded screws, decaying trees were filled with concrete, and fungi was prevented from forming over cut branches by installing copper plates.
• The banks of the River Aurajoki are the favoured terrain of the Daubenton's bat and the northern bat. 

Kupittaanpuisto park 

• Area 24 ha
• Location on map
• The oldest and largest urban park in Finland
• Bishop Henrik is said to have baptised the first Finns in the spring in Kupittaa
• Image 

Kupittaanpuisto park is the oldest and largest urban park in Finland. In addition to extensive green areas, the park also contains a bird park, children’s traffic park, Adventure Park, a pavilion restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, and a sports hall. The park is a popular spot for recreation and picnics. 

From Bishop Henry to tournaments 

According to folklore, Bishop Henrik baptised the first pagan Finns as Christians in the spring of Kupittaa during the first crusade in 1155. 

As early as in the 1500s, Kupittaa was a common place of trade and a pasture for grazing horses. Some plots of arable land had been cleared for cultivation, and until the 19th century, the bourgeois in Turku owned plots of cultivated land in the area between Itäharju and Kupittaa. 

As John III of Sweden (the Duke of Finland) hosted his Renaissance court in Turku Castle in the 1550s and 1560s, Kupittaa held tournaments and midsummer parties. In the 17th century, the students of the Academy of Turku gathered in Kupittaa on the Day of Flora for a traditional spring celebration. 

Health and rolling heads 

In the early 1680s, the spring of Kupittaa became known as a spring of health. Its surroundings were used to first treat lepers and later cholera patients. Kupittaa also has its darker history: since 1760, the area around Uudenmaantulli became an execution site, as the death penalty was still fairly common in the 18th century. In addition to murder and manslaughter, death penalty could also be given for theft. 

The spa, which was established in the area as early as the 18th century, attracted a lot of visitors to Kupittaa. Kupittaa was a source of water for the entire Turku region, providing the majority of the drinking water of local residents. Two streams ran from the Kupittaa basin down to the city: Krooppi, which flowed along Kerttulinmäki Hill and next to the Old Great Square into the River Aurajoki, and Sikaoja, which led to the river along the edge of Sotalainenmäki Hill. The first spa buildings were erected in Kupittaa as early as the 18th century. The first years after the spa opened were also its golden years. The spa became ever more popular as it expanded into the park from the 1840s to the 1870s. 

Park established for spa guests 

The Kupittaa park area was established in 1820 as a park for the spa guests to stroll in. The centrepiece of the park was the promenade leading to Kupittaa Field, where an avenue of birches still stands. In 1824, the spa company built a large bathhouse with an awning supported by pairs of Doric columns which led to the octagonal pavilion by the spring designed by Charles Bassi.  

In the 1840s, Kupittaa became a popular venue for recreation with daily dances and regular circus shows and animal fights. The spa activities in Kupittaa ended in 1885 when the oldest spa building burnt down and the other one was auctioned and later demolished. The spa’s banquet hall remained unused until it burned down during the Winter War. The octagonal pavilion still stands by the field adjacent to Kupittaa Outdoor Swimming Arena. 

Traces of gardening school still linger 

In the first half of the 19th century, the park comprised the north-eastern part of the current park, the spa area and the small park surrounding it, as well as the garden school area and the so-called Kupittaantori Square. The Kupittaa gardening school began its operations in 1841, and the pupils were responsible for managing the surrounding park. The school was located where the Adventure Park currently is, and some of the old gardening school buildings are still in use by the Adventure Park.  

Kupittaantori square, which led to the park, was located in the intersection of Uusimaankatu and Itäinen Pitkäkatu. You can still visit the poplars that were planted there during the renovation of the square in the 1880s. 

Extensions brought in sports fields 

The expansion of the park began in the 1890s, during which a sports field and a playground were built in the park, and trees and bushes were planted. After the gardening school temporarily closed its operations in 1898, the area was transferred to city management. At that time, the garden school’s plant nursery, the area between it and Uusimaantie, as well as the rental field Ryssänpelto were added to the park. The city gardener Hammarberg drew up a plan for this extension in 1898, in which he recorded the condition that only the best Finnish seedlings should be used. He specifically justified the use of coniferous trees by saying that the park should also be beautiful in winter. In connection with the expansion work on the eastern side of the birch avenue, the park got a playground, bird ponds and a swimming pool, which was completed in 1910 in honour of the old spa tradition. 

Linnanpuisto Park, a 2.6-hectare green area surrounding the Turku Castle, has diverse vegetation. The park is home to approximately a hundred woody and herbaceous plant species, including Swiss pines, maples, oak and horse chestnuts, as well as decorative shrubs and perennials. 

History 
In 1900, the municipal gardener Mauritz Hammarber proposed building a park around Turku Castle. The park was completed in 1906, but soon it became clear it was in need of an expansion. Garden architect Söderberg drew up a new plan to protect the park from noise and smoke from the port with dense plantings. Decorative buildings, such as a Renaissance-style temple and a pergola covered in wild vine, were erected in the park. 

In the 1930s, the park was restored and more trees and bushes were added. Bombs during the Second World War damaged both the castle and the park, but it was restored again in the 1950s. 

Location on map 

Area: 7.2 ha 
Trees: Vartiovuorenpuisto Park is home to more than 70 woody species. Rare species include Dutch elm, Balm-of-Gilead, Spiraea media, and Chinese lilac. Deciduous trees, such as Norway maple and limetree, grow on the edges of park avenues, while coniferous trees, such as Norway spruce and blue spruce, are mostly found in the middle of the park. The oldest trees in the park are over 100 years old, and no new trees have been planted in the area for a long time. 

Location on map 

Vartiovuorenpuisto Park is one of Finland’s oldest and most valuable urban parks in terms of cultural history. At the beginning of the 19th century, Vartiovuori was just bare rock and stones that had been used for centuries to build the city. After the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, the city began adding greenery to the city’s hills, and Vartiovuori became the first target of these plantings. 

The first plantings were made in the 1840s and 1850s, and by 1854, Vartiotorni had become lush with trees and flowers, and natural stone stairs, viewing platforms and benches had been built in it. Although the park plan from 1873 was only partially implemented, Vartiovuori became a popular park. A summer restaurant named “Tutis” was built on the top slope in 1877, but it was demolished in 1964. 

Vartiovuori Hill has been a popular place for May Day celebrations since 1919, and since 1925, traditional May Day picnics have been organised there. In 1954, Turku Summer Theatre moved to Vartiovuori, and its stand was renewed in 2000. 

Today, Vartiovuorenpuisto Park is a popular place for picnics, outdoor activities and yard games. Many locals also love to walk or jog through it, or bring their children to play there. 

Did you know... 

• Vartiovuori was one of the first islands that was revealed by the retreating sea in the Turku region. You can find information boards explaining its prehistoric altitudes along the Vartiokuja and Teininkuja paths.
• Vartiovuorenpuisto Park is a nationally significant built environment.
• Before the Great Fire of Turku in 1827 and before it became a hill park, the southern slopes of the hill housed an amusement park called Surutoin, where local residents could enjoy carousels and the greenery of the Gadolin garden. 

Area: 2.8 ha 
Trees: Old deciduous broad-leaved trees such as wych elm, maple, linden, and English oak. Conifers like Swiss pines. Rare species include horse chestnut and common hawthorn. 

Location and how to get there: 
Puolalanpuisto Park is located near the centre of Turku, close to the Market Square. See the location on the map here. 

History and significance: 
Puolalanmäki has been an important part of Turku’s cityscape since the 19th century. The establishment of the park began in 1889 and it has become an important recreational area and part of national romantic architecture. The vegetation of the park is typical of the early 20th century with many traditional Finnish tree species found there. 

May Day traditions and events: 
Puolalanmäki has been the heart of May Day traditions in Turku since 1949. Every year, people gather in front of the Art Museum to celebrate May Day, and children have been playing on the hill from the beginning of the 20th century. In winter, the hill is a popular spot for sledding. 

Sights and special features: 
Puolalanmäki Park has a magnificent collection of old trees and unique plants, such as the common hawthorn. The horse chestnuts in front of the Art Museum form an impressive thicket. The two playgrounds in the park are popular with children all year round. 

Did you know... 

• In the Middle Ages, the Hospital of St. George was located on the eastern slope of Puolalanmäki. The hospital served as an isolation ward for lepers until it moved to the island of Seili in the 1570s.
• The hill is a popular nesting site for the common starling and redstarts, which thrive in a busy urban environment.
• The buildings and park of Puolalanmäki form a nationally significant built environment. 

Area: 4.8 ha 
Trees: Old deciduous trees, pines and common alder. 

Location and how to get there: 
Kansanpuisto Park on Ruissalo Island is located only five kilometres from the centre of Turku. You can get there easily by bike, bus or car. See the location on the map here. 

History and attractions: 
Kansanpuisto Park on Ruissalo Island was established in 1847 as a recreational area for local residents. The area has a long history as a popular venue for leisure: already in the early 20th century, the area hosted a restaurant, bowling alley, swimming pool and summer theatre. The current restaurant was completed in 1865 and the adjacent theatre in 1928. Ruissalo beach was created in the summer of 1930, and is still a popular place for locals to hang out. 

Modern services and attractions: 
Kansanpuisto park is perfect for a relaxing day of suntanning or beach volleyball, or spending time with your kids at the playground. You can also find many magnificent old oak and linden trees in the area. The park trails pass through green forests and maritime landscapes. Take the “Kansanpuiston lenkki” trail or explore the villas of Ruissalo – the routes are available in the Citynomadi service. 

Nature and special features: 
Kansanpuisto Park is home to many unique insect species; in fact, it has the only occurrence of hermit beetle in Finland. This EU-protected species makes the park a particularly valuable nature site. 

Festivals and events: 
Kansanpuisto Park is also known for Finland’s oldest rock festival, Ruisrock, which draws in music lovers year after year. 

Did you know... 
Two nature trails run through the Kansanpuisto Park: ”Kansanpuiston lenkki” and ”Ruissalon huvilat”. Find the trail maps on Citynomadi. 

Area: 8.2 ha 
Trees: Approximately 80 different tree species grow in Samppalinnnanvuori park, such as limetree, wych elm, maple and ash. Conifers, such as Swiss pine, grow in thickets. A large golden willow grows near the outdoor swimming centre, and by Luostarivuori School, you can also spot a “Diversifolia” variety of the ash tree. 

Location on map 

The second oldest hill park in Turku, Samppalinna Park, is known for its magnificent views, restaurant and outdoor swimming pool. 

The establishment of the park began in the 1860s, when municipal councillor Per Cerelius Rettig built a restaurant on the northern slope of the hill. The park was designed by the Swedish landscape architect Knut Forsberg. In 1866, Rettig donated to improve the beauty of the slope, and these funds were used to form the Samppalinna Fund, which was used to finance the plantings in the park. Construction of the park began in the Olavinpuisto area, and the landscape park surrounding the restaurant was completed in the 1870s. 

The park was first expanded in the late 1880s, when deciduous trees were planted and paths were built on the northern slope in connection with the observation points in accordance with the plans of A.F. Rydberg. Today, the lindens and maples of the park are over 100 years old. 

In the early 20th century, a game field and playground were built on the upper plain of Samppalinna, and plenty of trees and bushes were planted in the park. Backfilling and planting work continued throughout the 1910s. Samppalinna Park was built to be the city’s lungs – a green area that would promote the health of residents and provides space for outdoor activities and exercise. 

Samppalinna took its current form in the 1950s when the outdoor swimming pool and its surroundings were renovated. At the same time, the stone steps on Itäinen Rantakatu leading to the park were also repaired. 

Did you know... 

• At the beginning of the 20th century, there used to be an artificial pond in the place of the current outdoor swimming pool, where local residents liked to cool down in the summer even back then.
• In 1908, approximately 20,000 loads of soil were driven to Samppalinnanpuisto Park.
• In 1929, the park served as the main stage for the fair celebrating Turku’s 700th anniversary. 

The history of planted trees in Turku extends back hundreds of years, and it is said that the Finnish garden culture sprung up from the fertile soil of the River Aurajoki valley. Confirmed in 1828, the local detailed plan created a foundation for green urban structures and public urban parks. 

The first greenery in the Great Square were the chestnuts, lindens and maples planted there in 1833. These trees also played an important role in improving fire safety. Three parks were established around the Great Square (today known as Porthan Park, Brahenpuisto Park, and Cathedral Park) which were partially completed in 1835. 

Finland’s first public sculpture: Porthan Statue 

In 1864, Finland’s first public sculpture, the statue of Henrik Gabriel Porthan, was erected in Porthan Park. The statue significantly changed the look of the park and brought it prestige. The Pinella Pavilion, which once played a part in the area’s busy social life, is also located in the same park. 

Statue of Per Brahe in Brahenpuisto Park 

In 1888, a statue of Per Brahe was erected in Brahenpuisto Park, which also marked a major restoration of the park. At the same time, the parks’ network of paths and plantings were renovated. The statue continues to be a visible part of the park landscape and impressive medallion-shaped plantings were planted around it. 

Improving the value of the parks 

Erecting the statues of Porthan and Brahe increased the appreciation of the parks in the area. At the end of the 19th century, thousands of flowers were added to the parks, and mowing the grass in Porthaninpuisto was done with machines already at that time. 

Hammarberg and Söderberg plans 

In 1899, Hammarberg proposed the renovation of Brahenpuisto Park. The partial implementation of his plan is still visible in the park landscape. The Cathedral Park was renovated according to the plans of the city gardener Harald Cyrus Söderberg in 1911, at what time the playground was also built. The park’s pathways were re-built into a more curved shape, and a small square was constructed in the middle. 

Declaration of Christmas Peace and cultural events 

In Finland, Porthan Park and the Great Square are known as the place where every Christmas Eve the Declaration of Christmas Peace takes place and brings together an audience of thousands. Many summer events are also organised in the park, such as the Night of the Arts and Medieval Market. Porthan Park has been restored using old maps and photographs. 

Area: 17.6 ha 
Trees: More than 85 tree species grow in Sports Park. Rare species include sycamore, black poplar, and white ash. Near the Biological Museum, there are douglas fir and white pine trees. 

Location on map 

Sports Park is a centre for sports and sports facilities where venues for different types of exercise are located in a park-like environment. The park is divided into several sections. At its heart is the Paavo Nurmi stadium which is the starting point for paths to different parts of the park. A jogging trail circumvents the park in the beautiful greenery of a forest of deciduous trees. Two playgrounds and several historical buildings are also found in Sports Park. 

History 

Sports Park was established in 1893 when Turun Urheilunystävät began developing the area for exercise use. The City Council handed over the 16-hectare area behind Samppalinnanmäki to the association, and the first field of the park was already completed in the autumn of the same year. The park was inaugurated on 1 October 1893 with a bicycle race and tennis matches. 

Construction progressed rapidly, and in 1894, the city granted funds for the development of Sports Park. Proceeds from lotteries and popular festivals also contributed to the building of the park. Massive earthmoving work was carried out by horse: for example, filling in just one pond took more than 40,000 cart loads of soil. 

Paavo Nurmi and sports history 

The Sports Park was expanded in the 1920s, and the running track was completed in 1926. Paavo Nurmi ran a 1500-metre race against the Swedish Edvin Widen in front of an audience of 10,000. 

The responsibility for the maintenance of the sports park was transferred to the City of Turku in 1943 when entrance fees were also abolished. The park continued to develop: a 4,000-seater stadium was completed in 1989 and named the Paavo Nurmi stadium in 1997 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nurmi. 

Sports Park today 

Today, Sports Park offers versatile opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. The park has a long jogging trail, playgrounds and pleasant places to spend time in. It is still a central hub for sports events, and its living history has an important part in Turku’s urban landscape. 

Did you know... 

• Karikonlenkki, a 1.4 km track that circumvents the sport park, was named after the legendary coach Paavo Karikko. 
• The Samppalinna windmill, built in 1859–61, is the only remaining windmill in Turku. 
• Next to the mill is the mill owner’s home, which dates back to the same time. 

• Park designer: Oscar Rudolf Gauff. The park was completed in 1895
• Area: 0.6 ha
• Park on map
• The park is home to the Aino statue (1950) designed by Matti Haupt 

The station park (as well as the Railway Square) is located in front of Turku Central Station. The park and the main railway station area are part of nationally significant built cultural environments by the definition of the National Board of Antiquities. 

In the 19th century, the city leased the area to travelling circus companies during market days, especially to carnivals from Germany. When the railway and station building were completed in 1876, the use of the area changed. The front of the station was paved in 1893, after which a lively discussion on the use of the remaining area began. The city council wondered whether the area would be more suitable as a busy passageway park or for unrushed leisure with winding avenues. 

Finally, the city council approved the plan of city gardener Oscar Rudolf Gauffin. Rows of trees were planted on three sides, and the park’s tree-lined avenues were designed to allow passing through the park quickly. Construction of the park began in 1894 and was completed the following year. However, the original curved park lanes were straightened in 1940 according to the plan of the city gardener A. Hellemaa. In the same year, a new station building designed by Martti Wälikangas was also completed. 

The park is home to the statue Aino designed by sculptor Matti Haupt, which was donated to the City of Turku in 1950. There is also a pond in connection with the statue. 

• The park was established in 1973. Designed by Matti Sauramo
• Area: 1 ha
• Location on map
• Matti Juva’s “Turku työllä rakennetaan” (1987; Turku is built through labour) sculpture is located in the park. 

Located by Föri, the park was named after the Barker cotton factories that were previously located there. The park was established in 1973, the year after the demolition of the factory buildings. You can still find a few of the original linden and elm that grew by the factory.  

The park is the last park built with manual labour in Turku. A popular children’s playground is located in the area. Next to it is the sculpture “Turku työllä rakennetaan” which was inaugurated by President Mauno Koivisto. The sculpture celebrated the 100th anniversary of Turun työväenyhdistys, the local worker’s association, in 1987. 

Trees: Versatile trees, including original linden and elm from the time of the factory, can be found in the park. In addition, some of the planted tree species include rowan, limetree, ash, ‘glauca’ blue spruce, Swiss pine, ‘Reitenbachii’ Norway maple, and Camperdown elm. 

Surprising facts: 

• Kari Juva’s “Turku työllä rakennetaan” has been called Finland’s heaviest outdoor sculpture.
• Northern bats have been observed in the vicinity of the park. 

• Designed by municipal gardener Johan Ferdinand von Lück
• Part of Engel's Western Esplanadi plan
• Area: 0.1 ha
• Location on map
• Linden trees were ordered from Germany and planted on the edges of the park area. In 1882, a third row of linden was planted in the middle
• Official name only in the early 1960s 

Steamship port built in the middle of Western Esplanadi 

In 1893, two warehouses were built in the steamship port that was located around the current Martinsilta Bridge. The western Esplanadi Park lost a considerable amount of space as the warehouse divided it in two. Locals started calling the port side of the park Kivipainopuisto and the city side Nordenpuisto after the hotel Norden located next door. Between 1878 and 1898, the municipal gardener Oscar Rudolf Gauffin was responsible for the park's renovation planning. 

When the Martinsilta Bridge was built in the late 1930s, one of the warehouses was demolished. Restaurant Vaakahuone now operates in the preserved building. In 1956, grass replaced the gravel in Borenpuisto Park according the plans of municipal gardener Heimo Hietala (1955). The memorial of winter navigation “Jäinen meri” (“Icy Sea”) by sculptor Raimo Utriainen was placed in the park in 1961, and the following year the park's plantings were supplemented with two bush groups based on the plans of designer Olli Turku (1962).      

The park gets its official name      

The park was without an official name for decades. Borenpuisto Park was opened in the early 1960s. Borenpuisto is the name that locals used for the park, originating from the office and residential building owned by the steamship company Bore that housed the company’s headquarters until 1976 and is still called the Bore House.  

Trees: The trees mainly consist of limetrees, but you can also find some Swedish juniper and dwarf mountain pine. 

Did you know: 

The name committee had several proposals for the name of the park: Jokisatamanpuisto 1947, Uppmaninpuisto 1948 and Merenkävijänpuisto 1977.   

• Established in 1950
• Construction was supported by Wärtsilä Oy, whose employees lived in the area
• Original name Tonttumäki
• Location on map 

Originally, the hill in Fleminginpuisto park was rocky. The establishment of the park began by modifying the terrain. Infill soil was brought in and plantings were made. When the stone crusher on Kupittaankatu ended operations in the 1960s, its old standings were integrated into the park using infill soil.  

The original name of the area was Tonttumäki, but the name was changed to Fleminginpuisto in honour of the famous Fleming family that lived in the city at the time of the Vasa kings. Climb to the top of Fleminginpuisto Park for sweeping views over southwestern Turku. 

Did you know: 

• The park once hosted volunteer haymaking days which welcomed all local residents for help 

• Designed by Irma Rytkölä (1990)
• Area: 2.7 ha
• Park on map 

Ingegerdinpuisto park is located in the Räntämäki district, in the middle of a block of single-family houses. In Finnish conditions, the park’s characteristic massive landscape and terrain modification are very unique. The construction of student apartments by the nearby Student Village Foundation left more than four mounds of land. The mounds are 3–4 metres tall and 50–70 metres wide, and viewed from above, they look like a four-leaf clover. 

The park is diverse in vegetation. Several species have been planted in the park as a test: many rare trees, such as Manchurian cherry and Swedish birch, have been planted here. There are more than a hundred woody plant species, such as Vilmorin's rowan, Virginia bird cherry, black pine, Veitch's fir, and cut leaved alder. Large groups of sargent crab apple, rugosa rose, poppius rose, and black chokeberry have been planted on the park’s mounds. Ingegerdinpuisto park also has two groups of various perennial plants. 

The park offers excellent opportunities for both play and exercise: there is a playground surrounded by plenty of greenery as well as a football and volleyball field. In winter, the football field is frozen for skating, and the park’s dunes become excellent sledding slopes. 

Special features: 

• The name of the park originates from a tombstone from the 13th century, which is embedded onto the wall of the nearby Maaria Church. 

• Design by Provincial Architect G. Th. Chiewitz
• Area 1.6 ha
• Location on map 

Kakolanmäki is one of the seven hills of Turku. For a long time, there were no trees on the hill. The first trees were planted in Kakolanpuisto Park in the 1860s. The modifications and the overall park plan were prepared by Provincial Architect G. Th. Chiewitz. Kept as a park-like environment, the hill is a versatile collection of urban nature with its cultural plants and thickets of deciduous trees. The trees along Serpentiinitie form a magnificent alley around the road. 

Kakolanmäki is known for its over 100 years of prison history. The prison was closed in 2007, and today there are plenty of homes, hotels and restaurants on the hill. 

Fun fact: 

• You can admire Kakolanpuisto park from the popular funicular Funikulaari, which runs on the hill by Serpentiinitie
• The name of the area is thought to refer to the mental hospital and its patients that once stood near the hill. In local slang, “kako” meant someone who had lost their mind. 

• Area 0.5 ha
• Location on map
• Muusat (“Muses”), an artwork erected in 1987 in honour of Koskenniemi, is a bronze copy of Merikosken muusat (1985, Oulu), a monument designed by Terho Saki. The sculpture is also known as Torso 

The pedestrian and cycle path leading from Yliopistonmäki to Kerttulinkatu and the park area surrounding it were named after the poet and Professor Veikko Antero Koskenniemi. Koskenniemi was the first professor of literature at the University of Turku in 1921–1948, the President of the University in 1924–32 and, since 1948, a member of the Academy of Finland. 

The area consisting of Koskenniemienkatu and Koskenniemiaukio starts from the stairs leading from Yliopistonmäki towards Kerttulinkatu and is surrounded by beautiful maple trees. The northern edge of the hill comprises a park forest, a slope with mainly deciduous trees. The part of Turku that starts on the lower level of the stairway also has some park forest around its northern edge until it reaches the parking lot. 

Several trees grow in the area, such as wych elm, Finnish whitebeam, limetree, maple, ash, English oak, as well as downy birch and silver birch. Shrub species include lace shrub, Siberian peashrub, Tatarian honeysuckle, cornels, Siberian dogwood, Japanese yew, hoary mock orange, and snowberry. 

Did you know this: 

• Yliopistonmäki has also been called Suur-Vatsela and Mannisvuori. In the 16th century, the name of the hill changed to Ryssänmäki after a townsman called J. Ryss who owned five houses in the area. The name Ryssänmäki has been in use since at least 1587. The name of the hill changed to Yliopistonmäki in the 1950s.
• The area used to be on the outskirts of the city, as the 17th century customs fence was located in Ryssänmäki. 

• Originally the front garden of the Seurahuone Hotel
• City Council moved to the premises of Seurahuone in the late 1880s and changed its name
• Area 0.1 ha
• Location on map 

The park was built with private funds  to decorate the hotel. Three rows of linden were planted in the park and it was paved with gravel. The Turku City Council, which was established in 1874, moved to Seurahuone at the end of the 1880s, when the name of the park also changed.  

The most radical changes in the City Hall Park took place in 1955 when eight shrub groups and one maple were planted, tiled paths were built, and the gravel surface of the park was turned into grass after the plans of A. Komulainen. During these renovations, numerous shrub groups were planted by the walls of the City Hall and grass was sown. 

In 1965, Matti Sauramo drew up a plan for the renovation of the small park, on the basis of which alpine roses, rose bushes, yews, a wych elm, and a small summer flowerbed were planted by the city hall. Roses were also planted in the park.  

Special features: 

The Pudelma pavilion, built as part of the Turku Capital of Culture in 2011, was placed in the park as part of an international architectural project. Pudelma is made of wood but built to look woven. Dismantling or moving the structure has been considered often. 

• Area: 0.2 ha 
  Trees: The park’s tree stock consists mainly of European limetrees.
• Location on map 

Sairashuoneenpuisto Park is located at the end of Sairashuoneenkatu, along Linnankatu. The park is part of Western Esplanadi as designed by architect Carl Ludvig Engel. Construction began in 1861 by the Sairashuoneenpuisto park, when the first trees were planted by Erik Nygren, a gardener at the Kupittaa Gardening School. 

The Western Esplanadi was completed in 1867 and extended from Sairashuoneenpuisto to the current Myllysilta Bridge. In 1882, a new row of lindens was added to the park, dividing the wide avenue into two paths. When the steamship port was moved to Martinsilta Bridge in the late 1880s, the harbour structures cut Western Esplanadi in two. The southern part was later named Kivipainopuisto and the northern part Borenpuisto. Kivipainopuisto was officially named Sairashuoneenpuisto park in 1981. 

• Area: 2.2 ha 
  Trees: Tuomaanpuisto park is home to limetree, oak, wych elm, European and Siberian larch as well as Petrowskiana poplars. You can’t help but notice the huge poplar tree near the entrance to the park.
• Location on map 

Tuomaanpuisto park is located in the historical Turku Garrison which was established at the end of the 19th century east of the River Aurajoki, on the northeast side of the city centre. In the past, the area was known as Piispanpelto (“Bishop’s field”), as it was cultivated by bishops in the 14th century. 

Kasarmi Park (the current Tuomaanpuisto Park) was established as a picturesque walking park in connection with an officers’ club and hospital. The park fell into disrepair in the early 20th century, but it was restored in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1953, the park was officially named Tuomaanpuisto after Bishop Tuomas, who served as the Bishop of Finland between 1220 and 1245. 

The area was transferred to the University of Turku in the 1970s and a design competition for its development was organised, which architect Matti Nurmela won. According to the plans, old buildings were demolished and the park was cleared, but the historical features of the Garrison park were preserved. 

Tuomaanpuisto park is divided into two parts: the historical barracks park and its rocky herb-rich forest. The historical part is dominated by large Petrowskiana poplars, one of which was the largest park tree in Finland until 2016. The park also has lilacs, mock oranges and old deciduous trees, such as oak, ash and maple. 

The park has two public sculptures, a playground and a tennis court. Here you can also explore the old barracks, hospital and ice cellar, which are in the use of the University of Turku. 

A more forested part of the park is located on a hill with views of the university village, Cathedral and Raunistula. The park is home to many rare insect species and has a lot of natural value. 

Did you know... 

• Tuomaanpuisto park was home to Tsar’s Poplar (Populus ’Petrowskiana’), which was the largest park tree in Finland until its second trunk broke in a storm in 2016. The circumference of tree was 670 cm as measured in 2008. The remaining part was made into an environmental artwork in 2017. 

• Area: 0.2 ha
• Trees: The park is surrounded by a hawthorn fence and maple trees
• Location on map 

Yrjänänpuisto Park was established in 1929 when a playground, avenues and plantings were built in St. Yrjänä Square. A year later, 29 maples and oak were planted around the area, some of which still grow in the park. During the war, the park fell into disrepair, but it was restored in 1951 under the management of municipal gardener Aarno Hellemaa. In connection with the restoration, a rotunda was built to improve the park’s comforts, more maples were planted, and the firs lining the park were replaced with rowan trees due to the poor condition of the spruces. 

The square between Niklaksenkatu and Köydenpunojankatu also got a new look when maples, rose bushes and summer flowers were planted and two benches were built there. The renovation work was completed in 1953. 

Yrjänänpuisto park and the adjacent Yrjänänaukio Square offer many shaded spots for play and relaxation. 

• Area: 0.2 ha 
• Trees: Crabapple trees, maples, northern white cedar 
• Location on map 

Ystävyydenpuisto Park was established in 1955 in front of Turku Concert Hall. The City of Gothenburg supported the reconstruction of Turku after the Second World War. Aninkaistenkatu University of Applied Sciences and Turku Concert Hall were built with donations from Gothenburg. As thanks for the cooperation, the City of Turku ordered a sculpture from Wäinö Aaltonen as a gift to Gothenburg. Wäinö Aaltonen's sculpture "Ystävyyssuhteet solmitaan” ("Creating friendships") was completed in 1948 and revealed in Gothenburg in 1955. Its twin cast was revealed in Turku the same year in the newly established Ystävyydenpuisto Park (“Friendship Park”). 

Ystävyydenpuisto Park plays an important, symbolic role in relation to the Second World War and the partnership between Turku and Gothenburg. The cities have since officially become twin towns. 

Did you know... 

• The Great Fire of Turku in 1827 started in Aninkaistenmäki? 

Turku is known as a green city and the birthplace of Finnish garden culture. The first urban trees were planted indeed in Turku, which is why the city has exceptionally large and old trees, especially along the River Aurajoki and around the Cathedral. These trees make the city pleasant and add a touch of personality for both residents and visitors. 

Today, approximately 35,000 trees grow in the street and park areas of Turku, and the number is constantly increasing. Every year, the city plants 400–600 new trees. These trees are significant public assets that provide value in terms of landscape, cultural history, urban ecology, and economy. The city invests in the management of trees so that they can withstand the stress of urban conditions as well as possible for a long time. 

Trees in the city often experience stress from digging works, trunk and root damage, storms, wood-rotting fungus, toxins in the soil, soil compaction, and air pollution. In particular, the condition of old trees is monitored regularly to keep them safe and long-lasting. Young trees are also guaranteed the best possible growth conditions so that they can continue to delight locals for a long time.