Renewed Central Park Opens on August 7, 2026 – Year-Round Activities for All Ages
News
The extensive renovation of Rauma Central Park has been completed, and the park will officially open to the public on Friday, 7 August 2026. As a result of the renewal, the area has become a more versatile and accessible place for play, outdoor activities and spending time together for visitors of all ages. The park now features three separate playgrounds, new seating and gathering areas, and accessible pathways. Minor repairs identified during the final inspection on 6 August 2026 are currently being completed prior to the opening.
– The development of Central Park has been one of the city’s most significant park projects in recent years. It is great to see the area open to both residents and visitors as an even more versatile public space, says Construction Manager Engineer Petteri Kuusisto.
Construction work began in May 2025. The project was originally scheduled for completion in mid-June 2026, but delivery delays affecting playground equipment components postponed the park’s opening until August.
Central Park Invites Visitors to Enjoy Year-Round
The park’s three playground areas offer activities for children of all ages. The playgrounds include equipment for younger children as well as more challenging climbing structures for older children. All areas share a climbing theme inspired by ideas and wishes collected from local children and young people.
– Among the park’s new attractions are a climbing carousel, a climbing course, a multi-play structure with three towers, and a rope swing designed for multiple children to use at the same time, says City Gardener Mari Pohjalainen.
The park’s year-round appeal has also been enhanced by decorative lighting and the ice park completed next to Central Park at the end of 2024. During winter, visitors can enjoy ice skating, while in summer the area features skate park elements funded through the City of Rauma’s 2026 participatory budgeting programme.
Renovation Improved Comfort and Accessibility
Central Park is one of Rauma’s most popular green spaces and an important meeting place for residents. Thanks to its central location, the park has long served both as a place for recreation and leisure and as a gathering area for various events.
– Over the decades, the park’s structures and playground equipment had become worn out and reached the end of their service life. The goal of the renovation was to transform Central Park into a year-round recreational area that serves users of all ages better than before, Pohjalainen says.
Access to the park has also been improved. Pathways have been paved, and the playground surfaces have been constructed with artificial turf, making movement easier for people using strollers, wheelchairs and walkers.
New Plantings Bring a Fresh Look to the Park
New plantings and vegetation enhance the park’s attractiveness. A cherry tree grove has been planted along Valtakatu on both sides of the café building, bringing seasonal interest through spring blossoms and autumn colours. New shrub areas and diverse pollinator-friendly plantings have also been established throughout the park.
– Preserving the park’s existing mature trees has been a priority, and the collection has been supplemented with more than 30 new trees. These trees add greenery and provide shaded places to relax throughout the park, says Pohjalainen.
Renovation Carried Out in Phases
The Central Park renovation project cost approximately €3.1 million. Funding for the project included a state grant for sports facility construction (€293,100), support from the Lukko Foundation (€450,000), and a testamentary donation (€184,694).
The project progressed in phases between 2024 and 2026. In 2024, an ice park was completed adjacent to Central Park. The main construction works began in 2025, focusing on park structures and infrastructure. In 2026, landscaping works, playground areas, artificial turf surfaces and other finishing works were completed. At the same time, the water basin of the Tasala Vilkki and Hakkri Iiro sculpture was renovated.
The construction contractor for the project was Oteran Oy. The park’s master plan was prepared by landscape architecture firm Näkymä Oy, and the detailed construction plans were designed by Finnmap Infra Oy.
