Constructing the green wedge in the planning discourse - a case study of Central Park in Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

This article explores the construction of the green wedge in the planning discourse in Helsinki’s Central Park over three phases: its establishment in the early twentieth century, the first statutory plan of the 1970s and in the present context. Often described in quantitative methods emphasising physical and spatial qualities, the study instead examines the conceptual and historical dimensions of the park. The thematic analysis of the planning discourse looks at four principles characteristic of the green wedge model— the relationship between the park and the city; the continuity and connection from the centre to the outskirts; recreation and health; and nature as beauty and biodiversity. With the focus on the consistencies and changes, this study highlights the resilience of this over 100-year-old green wedge and demonstrates that Central Park has been able to accommodate new needs and functions while sustaining most of its original aims.