Park meals make the daily life of families with children easier in the summer
Park meals have once again started in different parts of Tampere. One of the areas organising park meals is Kaukajärvi where the meal queue zigzags along the grass on Monday in June.
– In good weather, park meals have reached people as extensively as last year, and clearly many people are already familiar with the concept from last summer, which also makes it easier for organisers, says Miia Mustalahti from TampereMissio, who is responsible for park meals in Riihiniemi in Kaukajärvi.
In Kaukajärvi near the Riihimäki beach, children get to frolic on the grass, enjoy arranged programme and have lunch free of charge. Park meals are organised in the Kaukajärvi area for the second time.
– Riihiniemi Beach is a natural meeting place for many Kaukajärvi residents and is well suited for park meals, says Sini Lempinen, Project Planner of the Neighbourhood Programme of the Kaukajärvi and Annala districts.
Summer full of fun activities and free meals
Park meals are open to everyone and are organised from Monday to Thursday between 11 am and 1 pm in five areas in Tampere.
– Last year, park meals were organised from Tuesday to Friday, and the days have now been changed based on the feedback we received. According to my own experience, Fridays were quieter last year, so the change has been good and hoped for, explains Mustalahti.
Games, play time and other activities are organised during the first hour of park meal days. According to Mustalahti, both programme commissioned by the city and the local programme, which varies by area, are organised in all park meal spots.
– Summer holidays are very long and children may have to stay at home alone for long periods of time while the parents are working. Park meals are one way to offer support to families in the form of free food and extra activities. In this way, we can also offer young people safe adult presence, says Lempinen.
Mealtime starts at 12 o’clock, when everyone aged under 16 can receive a free, warm meal. Meals are made by Pirkanmaan Voimia, and the menu includes foods that children are familiar with, the same as what they eat in schools.
– Participants in park meals must bring their own dishware and utensils. However, even if someone forgets to bring them, they will not be left without food, explains Mustalahti.
Park meals are made possible by the Tampere Junior development programme. Park meals are organised in cooperation between the City of Tampere and other actors. The most important partners are the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county, TampereMissio and Kansatalo Mansikkapaikka. Several Tampere parishes, organisations, associations, clubs and companies are also involved in organising the park meals.
Park meals are organised in five areas:
• Ahvenispuisto park in Hervanta (Valtaraitti 24)
• Riihiniemi beach in Kaukajärvi (Järvikatu 14)
• Lielahti Manor Park (Tehdaskartanonkatu 38)
• Peltolammi beach (Rukkamäentie 20)
• Veikonpuisto park in Tesoma (Tesomajärvenkatu)
