Tampere Residents’ Evening in Kaukajärvi: Focusing on community and connection

The final Tampere Residents’ Evening of this spring will take place on Wednesday 29 April 2026 from 17:00 to 19:00 at the Kaukajärvi Leisure Centre (Käätykatu 8).

At the heart of Tamperelaisten illat is the opportunity for residents to hear about and comment on current issues in their local area.

The main themes of the Kaukajärvi evening are community spirit and meeting place activities. The discussion will be introduced by Programme Manager Jaakko Laurila from the Tampere for All development programme. The Deputy Mayor will also take part in the discussions.

– At Tampere Residents' Evening, participants can share their views on what kinds of activities bring people together and are needed in the area, summarises Regional Coordinator Jarno Koskinen, who is responsible for organising the event.

Residents take part in local area development

Kaukajärvi and Annala have been focus areas for city development for a long time. Last year, the Kaukajärvi and Annala neighbourhood development programme came to an end. Its aim was to promote residents’ wellbeing and the attractiveness of the area.

– Development work in the area will nevertheless continue. Kaukajärvi and Annala are also focus areas in the new neighbourhood development programme that began earlier this year, explains Coordinator Sini Lempinen from the City of Tampere.

During the evening, participants can share ideas on open clubs, events or other activities that bring people together and could be organised in various venues in the Kaukajärvi area, such as Haihara Art Centre.

Have your say on transport and safety

In addition to topics related to community life and meeting others, participants can also influence other local matters at information points hosted by various organisations.

The Nysse public transport network will be renewed in 2028. At the Kaukajärvi Residents’ Evening, participants can discuss their needs related to public transport. The information gathered will be used in planning the new transport network.

At the City’s traffic planning stand, residents can ask questions and discuss traffic and road safety in the area.

Representatives of the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa will also be present to talk about a free travel assistance service. This service is intended for people who feel unsure or unsafe travelling alone on public transport.

Safety will also be addressed at a stand about emergency household supplies. These refer to food and other essential items that every household should have available in case of long-lasting power or water outages. The stand will also provide advance information about a region-wide safety survey covering the whole Pirkanmaa area, which will begin in May 2026.

During the evening, visitors can also familiarise themselves with and test the City’s new channel for reporting racism, which is currently being prepared.

Culture, nature, physical activity and associations in the area

The Kaukajärvi evening will feature a comprehensive overview of the wide range of activities available in the Kaukajärvi–Annala area, aimed at people of different ages and life stages. At many of the information stands, participants can also share their own ideas or express their views.

The City of Tampere is developing recreational trails in the area stretching from Kaukajärvi to Hervanta and Peltolammi. During the evening, participants can comment on local outdoor recreation sites and suggest how they could be improved.

Visitors will also be able to learn about and get involved in the activities of the Urban prosumers project. In this project, residents, associations and businesses jointly develop climate-friendly and sustainable solutions related to food, mobility and energy. The project also offers grants for community initiatives connected to these themes.

The Tampere Art Museum is collecting residents’ thoughts, feelings, experiences and memories related to public art in the city. These art memories will be published on a new online platform showcasing public art, to be launched in 2026.

Also taking part in the event are family physical activity counselling services, Annala Youth Centre, Tampere 4H Association, Nauha ry, Setlementti Tampere, SOS Children’s Villages, TampereMissio, and Tampere Shelter and Crisis Centre Association, all presenting their activities in Kaukajärvi and nearby areas.

Come as you are

All residents of the Kaukajärvi and Annala areas, as well as others interested in these neighbourhoods, are warmly welcome to attend the Residents' Evening in Kaukajärvi. Grilled sausages will be served to the first 150 participants.

Tampere Residents' Evenings are free of charge and follow safer space principles.

– Residents' Evenings have a relaxed atmosphere. You can come just as you are and stay for as long as you want to, says Regional Coordinator Jarno Koskinen.

– You can speak with City staff in Finnish or English. You can always ask them to explain things more simply if the language becomes too complex or difficult, Koskinen encourages.