Kirjailijapuisto
Located at the corner of Törmäkatu and Kirjastokatu, the Japanese-influenced Kirjailijapuisto is Porvoo’s own cherry tree park. The park is especially impressive in the spring when the cherry trees and magnolias are in bloom. There is nothing better than forgetting your worries and sitting down on a park bench for a moment to read and enjoy the sunshine.
The history of the park
The spot where Kirjailijapuisto now stands used to be an extensive meadow that was occasionally used as a circus field, for example. The area is surrounded by a relatively densely built urban environment and a large number of residential properties. The idea for Kirjailijapuisto came about when garden entrepreneur Jukka Koskinen pitched a Japanese garden to City Gardner Mikko Kaunisto. The preliminary plan for the park was prepared by landscape architect Hiroko Kiviranta, based on which the actual park plan was drafted by Mikko Kaunisto. Kirjailijapuisto’s plant expert was Börje Fri. The park logo was designed by Ella Koskinen.
Description of the park
Visitors are led into the park via red Japanese-style gates. One of the key design elements of Kirjailijapuisto is the natural rock excavated from under the grass that used to cover the area. The rock dust and gravel areas of the park represent water. They can be crossed via a minimalist plank bridge, which leads to an area of bare rock in front of the planted perennials.
On the Kirjastokuja side is an area lined with Sargent’s cherry trees and paved with concrete in the Gyo style typically found in Japanese gardens. The alcoves have been furnished to serve as hangout areas with benches.
The park also houses a granite sculpture entitled Asahi by sculptor Jarmo Vellonen, who lives and works in Porvoo.
The vegetation of the park
As regards cherry trees, the park features Sargent’s cherry (Prunus sargentii), sweet cherry (Prunus avium ‘Plena’) and Spire ornamental cherry (Prunus × Hilleri ‘Spire’) trees.
In 2015, Fujitsu Finland Oy donated eight Prunus ‘Accolade’ cherry trees to the park to commemorate the company’s 80th anniversary.
The eastern part of the park includes an extensive planted area featuring trees, shrubs and a wide variety of perennials typical of English gardens. The perennials create an impressive and colorful backdrop for the park that stays in bloom throughout the summer.
Development of the park
Kirjailijapuisto was completed in 2012, but the area is still being constantly developed. In 2021, students from Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) drafted an operational management plan for the park that highlights future developments, such as the improvement of the park’s signs and increasing inclusion.
Pictures of Kirjailijapuisto