The Meri-Toppila neighborhood of Oulu, which has acquired a bad reputation amongst local Oulu residents, is hoping to reinvent itself as a community. Together, local citizens, agencies and the city of Oulu are seeking to foster positive actions and operations in the area.
The efforts will concentrate on Alvari, a community center in Meri-Toppila founded in fall 2010. The center serves the larger Koskela area, which includes Meri-Toppila, Koskela, Taskila and
Alppila. Alvari has become a meeting point for people and lots of community activities are based there.
The Alvari Community Center is maintained jointly by the city, the residential association of Toppila and Kulttuurivoimala ry. Its president, Kari Lunnas, says that Meri-Toppila can transform itself only if its residents start to view the neighborhood as a community and participate in the endeavor.