The Kalevala Theme Park planned for Hietasaari Island could possibly see its doors opens as late as 2015. Previously, planners at Pellepyy Oy, the company designing the theme park, had hoped to inaugurate sometime in 2014.
Pellepyy President Jyrki Suutari points to city zoning plans as the reason for slow progress on the project. The city will have to make a number of zoning decisions before construction can commence.
According to its business plan, the theme park will not attempt to compete with the bigger amusement parks; Kalevala Park’s aim is to create something unique. Suutari compares their plans to Legoland and Disneyland.
“Kalevala Park’s scale will be suitable for northern Finland, so of course we are not talking about similarly sized parks. Our Kalevala theme is however strong, and also profitable.”
The ball is now in the city’s court. Oulu’s zoning chief Matti Karhula says the matter is going through a deliberation process at the moment.
The amusement park, along the nearby attractions Eden, Pohto, Nallisport and Vauhtipuisto, is part of a plan to further develop the Nallikari area into a single, united free-time entity. The planners are hopeful that the zoning will be completed later next year.
Feedback from people living in the area has been mixed. Many are concerned about the potential for noise pollution, others about environmental issues, and still others about traffic jams on the island. Karhula acknowledges the concerns but thinks all of the issues cited can be resolved.
The local officials from the Green Party have already begun to lobby that the amusement park be built elsewhere. They have deep concerns about the local natural and cultural environment on Hietasaari.