A growing munici­pality needs a vibrant heart

A vibrant centre attracts new residents and businesses — and it is the best way to strengthen Kirkkonummi’s finances and services in the long term. Imagine in your mind a Kirkkonummi whose centre is lively, bright and tidy. Where the centre has services and entrepreneurs, bustling and busy. Now that the Greens’ long-held goal is being realised and the centre is being developed on a large scale, we have a golden opportunity to make Kirkkonummi the best municipality in Uusimaa. By building a centre where residents can live, be and do business well, right beside the railway station, we are securing the municipality’s attractiveness for the future.

What does a vibrant centre bring to the municipality?

By attracting more residents and businesses to the municipality, we are taking care of the municipality’s finances. This way we can ensure that the municipality’s services — such as early childhood education and schools — are high-quality. Providing services is also more efficient when a larger share of residents live within walking distance of the municipal office. Appropriate premises can also be offered to businesses, provided that close cooperation with local businesses takes place in the planned commercial buildings.

How can Kirkkonummi stand out from its competitors?

As a neighbour of Espoo, we have an excellent opportunity to stand out favourably as a nature-close municipality where services work. Current Kirkkonummi residents year after year say that nature is the most important reason to live here, services notwithstanding. If we succeed in building our centre, both nature and services will be secure — thanks to the income brought by new residents and businesses.

According to the latest assessments, Kirkkonummi is among Finland’s top 20 localities when measuring vitality, attractiveness and retentiveness. What if we were in the top 10?

What would that mean in everyday life? A short walk from the railway station there would be a café, a shop, health services and perhaps a pop-up market. A family with children could run their errands without a car. A young adult would consider staying in Kirkkonummi after starting work. A new resident would choose us over Espoo. Every new resident means more tax revenue — and that means better services for everyone.

I have written more about Kirkkonummi’s development: the possibilities offered by Lyyra, the House of Culture , the need for long-term municipal planning and the importance of public transport for municipal development .

Published in Kirkkonummen Sanomat on 19 March 2025. Published on the Kirkkonummi Greens website on 20 March 2025.