Lähteelä — a gem on Kirkkonummi coast

During Porkkala Bird Week, seabirds are observed, guided excursions are arranged to Räfsö, and migration is monitored from Haahka Tower. Kirkkonummi is a coastal municipality where nature, sea, and archipelago are an important part of everyday life and identity. It is here that Lähteelä lies — a large and multifaceted area of shoreline and islands that Kirkkonummi has now acquired.

How did Lähteelä become municipally owned?

Lähteelä has long been owned by Helsinki residents. When Helsinki divested its recreational areas beyond its boundaries, Kirkkonummi saw an opportunity to act. The municipal council voted unanimously to purchase Lähteelä. The decision is gratifying and reflects a strong collective will to secure the area’s future and ensure the continuation of activities as soon as possible.

What does Lähteelä offer?

The area features a guest marina, saunas, a café kiosk, and the island of Stora Svartön with nearby islets. More important than these individual structures, however, is what the Lähteelä acquisition means in principle.

It means that Kirkkonummi’s coast remains genuinely accessible to all. Lähteelä is one of the few places you can reach without a private boat. In a coastal municipality, this is not a given — and it is truly wonderful that those without boats can also enjoy this beloved destination.

Nature draws people year after year

Porkkala’s nature attracts people year after year. The archipelago, coastal routes, and events like Bird Week all testify to genuine interest in and need for shared nature experiences. Lähteelä meets this need concretely. It is a coast that is truly shared.

Towards sustainable development

As Lähteelä is developed, it is important to preserve its natural values and unique maritime environment. At the same time, it is worth being bold and making room for new ideas that increase the area’s livability and attractiveness in a sustainable way. This way, Lähteelä can serve municipal residents and other visitors now and in the future.

The coast belongs to everyone

Kirkkonummi is a coastal municipality. It is good that this is also reflected in how the sea and shores are accessible to all. The acquisition of Lähteelä is a step towards a municipality where nature unites and the shared environment is truly felt as shared.

I have written more about Kirkkonummi’s nature and planning: why local nature is Kirkkonummi’s trump card year after year, on cherishing local nature near schools and day-care centres and on what a growing municipality needs to thrive.