Hämeenpuisto Park

What kind of park is it?

Hämeenpuisto runs along the western side of Tampere's city centre, bordered on the north by Näsinpuisto and on the south by Eteläpuisto. Together, these parks form a single green area that runs from Lake Näsijärvi to Lake Pyhäjärvi.

Hämeenpuisto is a street green area, with the Hämeenpuisto street lanes on both sides. At the intersection of Hämeenkatu, Hämeenpuisto is plaza-like. In the centre of the park there is a pedestrian and cycle path approximately 8–9 metres wide, lined on both sides by two tree rows. There are around 400 trees and many park benches. The trees are mostly common limes, but there are also maples and horse chestnuts.

Hämeenpuisto also hosts events such as the Park Fiesta and the International Grand Market.

What does the park look like?

Hämeenpuisto sculptures

There are several public sculptures and memorials in Hämeenpuisto and nearby. In 1921, Viktor Jansson's Statue of Liberty of Tampere was unveiled in front of Alexander Church. There is also a granite ball of water (1997) in Freedom Square, which rotates on a thin layer of water by means of two submersible pumps. Around the stone is a compass motif made of granite stones.

Minna Canth received a monument by Lauri Leppänen between Satakunnankatu and Puuvillatehtaankatu in 1951, and a sculpture called 'News' was unveiled between Kauppakatu and Satakunnankatu opposite the main library Metso in 1981 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Aamulehti.

In 1950, the Co-operative Memorial by Wäinö Aaltonen was erected in Eteläpuisto Park, and in Näsinpuisto Park, immediately opposite Hämeenpuisto, the Näsinkallio fountain was erected by Emil Wickström in 1913. The funds for the fountain were donated by merchant Nikolai Tirkkonen in 1909 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his store.

The story of the park

Hämeenpuisto is based on a local detailed plan by architect C.L. Engel in 1830. It presented a wide park strip, more than a kilometre in length, functioning as a firebreak between the old and the new parts of the city. The park was previously called Esplanade Park, and the name was changed to Hämeenpuisto in 1936.

The first trees were planted between 1875 and 1909. The trees in the park have been replaced from time to time. Most of the old maples between Satakunnankatu and Puutarhakatu are probably the original trees of the park.

There were also two children's wading pools in the park, which have been removed for hygiene reasons, and a playground, which was removed in 2012.

In recent years, work has been underway to update the local detailed plan for Hämeenpuisto, along with a master plan for the park and traffic. The aim of the zoning amendment is to safeguard Hämeenpuisto’s values as a historic park.

Main photo: Laura Vanzo / Visit Tampere, winter photo: Laura Paronen / Visit Tampere.