Background

Only a hundred kilometres from the Estonian capital, Haapsalu has always been a popular summer resort, attracting thousands of tourists. During the winter, however, the city becomes a quiet, secluded place and the local youngsters feel that the city doesn’t cater to all their needs. After high school graduation, many young people even move away to more vibrant cities.

Haapsalu faces many problems, but the Future City Game in Haapsalu, focused on a specific issue - the future of its Youth Centres. The game was co-organised by Haapsalu Municipality, the Foundation Tallinn 2011 and the Estonian Youth Council, and brought together public officials and youngsters, enabling an exchange of ideas and opinions on the future of the city.

Objectives

The two Youth Centres currently face many problems, their locations being one of them - the problem being that they are located in the suburbs, and youngsters prefer to hang out in the city centre.

Only a specific group of people visit the centres. One centre has become a meeting place for Russian speaking youth and the other, just recently opened in an old medieval building, needs major refurbishment and has not yet become popular with young people. By bringing together youngsters and public officials, the game encouraged a fruitful discussion not only about the future of the Youth Centres, but many other issues.

At the end of the game, the city administration claimed to have a much better insight into the wishes and expectations of young people. By giving the youngsters the opportunity to express their opinions and discuss their ideas with officials, we helped them gain the confidence they need to approach the city administration and influence the city’s future.

Many very interesting ideas regarding various issues in Haapsalu came up during the game, although there could be only one winner.

Winning idea

The New Youth Centre in the Old Water Tower

The winning idea builds a closer connection between the youngsters and the Youth Centres. The conversion of an old water tower in the very centre of Haapsalu into a youth centre would bring the Centre closer to its public. A bus could either make a circuit of the city and bring young people to the Centre, or go out to various parts of the town and the surroundings, thus functioning as an "extended arm" of the centre. But how can youngsters be attracted? They like to hang out in cafes, go to cinemas and concerts, etc.. So the Green Team developed the idea of a bus transformed into a special Youth Bus. The Youth Bus provides youngsters with almost everything they desire. There is a café, a small cinema, a library, the possibility to play musical instruments, arrange occasional concerts and parties and several other entertaining events that appeal to them.

Winning ideas from the other teams

Where the Traditional Meets the Futuristic

Reopening and modernising the Tallinn-Haapsalu railway was the basis for the development of the Red Team’s idea. A lot of people commute daily by car between the two cities, because there are not enough well-paid and interesting jobs in Haapsalu. Young people tend to leave town for studies, and later for better jobs elsewhere. The new line would be more adapted to the needs of the inhabitants. it would be also good for the city’s economy. Economic growth attracts young people by providing them with most of what they can find in the capital, but also with beautiful countryside. It is a perfect solution for those who prefer the beautiful nature of Haapsalu to the rush and bustling life of the capital.

Haapsalu - a Vibrant City All Year Round

Spas and sanatoriums already attract a number of visitors to Haapsalu, but the Yellow Team felt there is room for more. What can Haapsalu offer these visitors that would also improve the economy of the town and create new jobs for people who want to stay and live there? Establishing an agency that provides services for people of all generations and managing the inflow of different target groups into the city could transform it into an all year tourist destination. The realisation of the idea, which requires a considerable investment, would ensure the vibrancy of the city, thus giving youngsters a reason to stay.

The Problems of Today

The Green Team II used a more realistic approach to the challenge and conducted research on the current situation of Haapsalu’s youth centres. They also talked to youngsters, asking for their opinions of the youth centres and their programmes, and trying to find out their needs and expectations. So, the youth centre workers received a very useful report on the opportunities, weaknesses and advantages that their centres face, and suggestions on how to overcome the problems.