Villages in Lapland set up paid parking areas for camper vans — YLE News
Village associations in Finnish Lapland are setting up parking areas for camper vans at sites of informal parking lots to organize travelers’ uncontrolled overnight stays. In Madetkoski in Sodankylä, a former informal parking area was redeveloped with the support of the Leader programme, YLE News reports.
Problems of the informal parking area
Previously, tourists at the parking area in Madetkoski relieved themselves in nature, discharged wastewater into a body of water and took firewood from a communal fire pit. Virpi Kumpula, chair of the Madetkoski village association, said that two summers ago local residents began improving the area by clearing bushes. According to her, this reduced the number of hidden spots and directed visitors to the toilets.
This summer, two large tanks for emptying wastewater from camper vans were installed at the parking area. The firewood storage facility was also fitted with a lock. Kumpula, who has lived in Madetkoski for more than 25 years, noted that the waterfront area has always been used as an informal parking area.
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Income for the village association
The redevelopment of the parking area cost less than €30,000. According to Kumpula, more than 20 vehicles can stop in Madetkoski on the busiest nights. Last season, the village association received approximately €1,000 from overnight-stay fees; this income supports its activities.
Johanna Mikkola, head of Pohjoisimman Lapin Leader, called Madetkoski an example of turning a local problem into a benefit for the village. At the same time, Mikko Kivekäs, executive director of the SF Caravan association of caravanners, said that Finland lacks equipped parking areas. He noted that in Norway, travelers willingly use paid services at rest areas.
A similar parking area was created several years ago in the village of Tennilä in Rovaniemi. According to Nina Kiviniemi, secretary of the local youth association, 14 tourists visited it in its first year, while this year the number exceeded 30.
