VIVA – Recreation and Free Time Spaces in the Oulu Region

The Development Plan for Recreation and Leisure Spaces in the Oulu Region ("VIVA") compiles the year-long work into one publication. It determines the Oulu Region’s vision, goals, central actions and indicators for the development of recreational and leisure spaces for the coming ten years. The plan is meant for the authorities, decision-makers, service providers, residents and visitors of the region’s municipalities. 

The work serves a purpose beyond the promotion of recreation and leisure activities, as it also serves as a tool for land use and tourism planning. The plan area covers all eight municipalities in the Oulu Region: Hailuoto, Ii, Kempele, Liminka, Lumijoki, Muhos, Oulu and Tyrnävä.  

The development plan compilation is directed by the Oulu Region’s municipalities, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Council of the Oulu Region, BusinessOulu and Metsähallitus. Ramboll Finland Oy serves as a specialist consultant in the process. 

Read the VIVA plan here (arcgis.com; in Finnish) 

As many residents in the region and other visitors as possible were reached in the initial stage of the work by compiling an open survey for everyone interested. The respondents had a chance to share feedback regarding the theme directly onto a map as well – offering concreteness in development suggestions.   

On top of the survey, the compilation included:  

• Interviews with central stakeholders  

• Two workshops  

• Two presentation events regarding the project  

• Final report in the form of a map 

One central result of the project was the easy-to-use digital map service that depicts the recreation and leisure spaces and routes in the Oulu region. 

The map meets the need for making recreational services offered by many providers visible. The map service is free to use. Hopefully the map inspires as many people as possible to utilize recreation services. The map service is also offered in English. 

The recreation and leisure theme may be very wide. The development plan focuses on sport, recreation and nature leisure services that are primarily operated by municipalities. These services are also essential for the region and development. 

Additionally, services operated by associations and Metsähallitus are considered when possible. The Development Plan does not include culture services or wellbeing services offered by private providers. 

See the VIVA map here 

In the initial stages of the project, an open survey was held. Over 600 people responded to the survey. According to the survey results, the central needs for recreation and leisure development were supporting natural recreation services in the Oulu region and increasing diverse accessible recreation opportunities.  

Preserving local nature (such as local forests and parks) and recreation opportunities in local nature were popular wishes in the survey. The perspectives of residents, visitors and stakeholders were considered in the plan compilation. 

Read more about the perspectives of residents and stakeholders here (arcgis.com; in Finnish) 

See the compiled survey results here – January 13, 2025 (in Finnish) 

VIVA aims to make recreation and leisure services more accessible with sustainable modes of mobility. Such modes include walking, cycling and public transport. Accessibility and service offerings have been investigated through analyzing sustainable recreation usage.  

In this context, sustainable recreation usage means, for example, how each recreational service is located relative to housing structures, how the services can be reached by foot, bicycle or public transport, and what kind of clusters the services can form.  

The synthesis of the analysis represents the implementation of the offerings, accessibility and individual value factors of recreation and leisure spaces as a whole. High-scoring areas are considered to have a lot of potential regarding recreation service development. 

Read the sustainable recreation usage analysis (arcgis.com; in Finnish) 

A five-step regional action plan (in Finnish) has been compiled to realize the set vision and goals. It includes actions on the following themes: regional cooperation, local recreation spaces and environments, different users and communications, accessibility, and life cycle sustainability. 

Some of the actions are quick, and some are long-term. It has been recognized that the development of recreation routes requires cross-municipal cooperation for a shared benefit. Crossing municipality borders over waters also has a lot of potential, just as ground routes. 

Read more about regional recreational and leisure development (arcgis.com; in Finnish)