The requests of Helsinki residents included graffiti walls, free cultural activities and a photography exhibition on utility boxes along streets.

This year, Helsinki residents will be able to get involved in the revamping of OmaStadi. The city has previously worked with residents to run two rounds of OmaStadi, from brainstorming to voting. During these rounds, citizens have been able to decide where the city will spend more than €13 million. The OmaStadi polls are the largest ever public-sector digital polls in Finland.

In 2022, Helsinki will begin the planning and implementation of the outdoor recreation and sports proposals voted by city residents in OmaStadi. There will be for example new outdoor gyms in different parts of the city. In addition, the possibility of keeping the Helsinki Swimming Stadium open year-round will be investigated.

Helsinki’s participatory budgeting service OmaStadi bolsters urban democracy and improves opportunities for influencing decision-making.