Welcome to explore Maunula!

Maunula is a fine place to live – peaceful, friendly and with easy access to outdoors.

We offer you an insight on what goes on in Maunula: You will be pleasantly surprised what you can find, when you go on a walk. For this purpose the map of Urban Walk (Kotikaupunkipolku) is provided. Please note that the map and the info are a few years old.

Map and information about Maunula.

In Maunula we are currently exposed to a large construction project especially in the town centre. Many new buildings have been completed and ready to attract new residents. There is now new housing available for larger families as well, e.g. in the single-house area near Tuusula highway.

The northern part of town is called Pirkkola and it will stay untouched due to restrictions to build anything new. The southern part of town is known as the “Old Maunula from the 1950s” and is also protected by city plans.

Most residents, both old and new, have welcomed the new community centre Maunula House that is beside the S-market grocery store.

Maunula local association and digihelp

At the street level of Saunabaari-building you can find media-lab called Mediapaja where you may use the computer, arrange small meetings, look for information, etc. Workers assist you in various issues concerning everyday life in Maunula.

You may even ask for advice on computer skills and on how to use mobile devices.

The operation is run by the active neighbourhood association Maunula Society (Maunula-Seura).

History

If you could go back in time to the early 1920s, you would see a small village with 18 wooden houses, some horse carriages and a mud road – but to experience local history further, join us for a journey exploring Maunula by foot!

Maunula started to grow after the Second World War when there was a huge shortage of decent housing and people were flooding to Helsinki. The new area had space and greenery, services nearby, and new apartments that were equipped with modern conveniences (water pipes, in-house toilets, electricity to light the rooms, etc.).

The “Old Maunula” was planned by the best architects of the 1950s and formed an ideal suburb where people moved with great pleasure. The population of Maunula peaked by 1964, reaching 13,000. By 2015, the population has dropped to 7,100. We are expecting a slight population increase in the near future with all the new building taking place.

Maunula Nature Trail

On the hike you can enjoy the forest, hazel groves, a brook and interesting cultural landscapes. The trail is suitable for families and hikers but not for strollers. The trail is 3.3 kilometres long and it is marked by blue signs bearing a fir cone. A good place to start is at Maunulan Maja in Central Park (Keskuspuisto). A picnic area can be found alongside the brook between the cemetery
and the allotment gardens.

The signposts along the way, give you information about natural diversity and the cycle of life. By walking the trail all the way round and back to the Maunulan Maja, you can learn more about forest and other biotopes, plants and animals and their lifecycles.

Maunula Nature Trail is an initiative by local residents. Maunula Nature Trail is maintained by the Helsinki City Public Works Department.

Maunula Playground

Families with children can use the facilities free of charge. During summer holidays there is a free warm lunch for all minors under 16 years. Remember to bring your own plate and spoon!

During the school year there are after school activities for first and second grade children. You must apply to be included in these groups. Don’t hesitate to pop into the playground and ask for more information.

The helpful staff can speak Estonian, English, Swedish and German and a few words in Turkish and other more rare languages.
Playground has been able to engage volunteers, apprentices and students from different ethnic backgrounds to work with
the children and families.

Over 24 different nationalities use the services and mingle at the playground. Because of this, there are eg. multicultural volunteers to sing, perform and cook at the annual Maunula Day.