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Human Impact Assessment

Salo: A playground in the Utiska area - HuIA form

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A shortened version of the HuIA form. The results of the assessment are summarised at the end of the form.

Issue: Building a playground in the Utiska area
Draftsman: City gardener
HuIA: Urban planner

1. Proposal:

A playground will be built in Utiska in accordance with the general plan prepared by the park department on a plot of land in a housing development area.

Impacts of the proposal:

Positive: (- -) The building of the playground will improve the attractiveness of the residential area especially from the viewpoint of families with children. It will offer children and their parents a meeting place, promoting the establishment of social contacts. (- -)

Negative: The owners of the land plots in the immediate neighbourhood of the playground may be negatively disposed to a building project that deviates from the urban area development plan. (- -)

The building of the playground implies that the City will lose one plot of land in the housing development area and related revenue. The surface area of the plot 14-24-7 is 1302 m². Its selling price would thus be some €17 000. Renting the plot would provide the City with an income of €714 per year.

2. What are the impacts if no changes are made

Local residents have hoped for a playground. If no playground is built, the residents might feel that their hopes have not been taken into account. (- -)

If the immediate neighbours of the playground perceive the location of the playground as problematic, they might be satisfied if no playground will be built. Otherwise the impacts of giving up the playground would be negative for the local residents.

3. Alternative proposal:

The Utiska playground will be built in the recreational area around Utiska.

Impacts of the alternative proposal:

Positive: If the playground is built in the recreational area, it could be larger in size with more space for play. (- -)

Negative: The terrain of the recreational areas to the south, south-east and south-west of the residential area is such that it is not suitable for a playground - -. (- -)

Summary

The building of a playground in Utiska has been hoped for by local residents and would improve the functionality and attractiveness of the area for families with children. The location of the playground in the middle of the area is the best alternative with regard to accessibility. Building the playground in accordance with the general plan will have positive impacts on many local residents.

Potential negative impacts would affect the immediate neighbours of the playground. These impacts can be alleviated by means of protective plantations between the playground and the land plots, as proposed in the general plan. Fencing the playground on all sides would clearly indicate the children where the boundary of the playground goes. The fence and a gate would also improve the safety of the playground, preventing the children from running directly into the street.

During the drafting process, the city gardener, architect and geodetic engineer discussed the location of the playground and alternative ways of implementing it. In order to be able to build a playground on a land plot in a housing development area, the urban plan needs to be changed or a deviation from the urban plan needs to be applied for. As a result of the negotiations, it was concluded that the playground could be placed on the plot 14-24-7 and the park department would apply for a deviation from the urban plan.

As it was decided to use the deviation procedure, the owners of the neighbouring land plots were informed in writing about the building project. None of the neighbours opposed the building of the playground on a plot specified in the general plan. The reservations made were concerned with the need to fence the playground and the trees to be planted around it.

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Published 7.11.2007, Updated 8.11.2007

Last updated 8.11.2007
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