In the vote on Tallinn's participatory budget, the citizens supported projects that bring greenery, outdoor recreation equipment and amenities to parks and other recreational areas.

"I would like to thank everyone who took part in the participatory budgeting process, both those who proposed ideas and those who voted. I am glad that people care about their community and are actively involved in shaping the urban space," said Mayor of Tallinn Mihhail Kõlvart. "Participatory budgeting gives us the insights of how people aspire their hometown to look in the future and gives people the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process."

The results of the vote on the participatory budget were approved by Tallinn City Government at its meeting today. Every Tallinn resident aged 14 or over was entitled to cast two votes for the ideas put forward in their own district. Everyone was entitled to vote in the district in which he or she lived, according to the population register. 

A total of 11,140 Tallinn residents took part in Tallinn's participatory budget vote. The vast majority of them – 10,777 people – voted electronically and 363 on paper. A total of 132 ideas for the participatory budget were put to the vote in the eight districts. A third of the ideas on the ballot concern the urban environment, a fifth are aimed at children and young people, and a fifth are designed to improve sports facilities. All the ideas submitted can be found at /eng/participatorybudget/voting.

Voting was most active in the City Centre, where 1,958 people cast their vote, followed by Lasnamäe with 1,902 votes. In Mustamäe, 1,718 people took part in the participatory budget vote, while 1,631 people voted in Põhja-Tallinn, 1,236 in Haabersti, 1,029 in Nõmme, 976 in Kristiine and 690 in Pirita. In all districts, the number of voters exceeded the minimum quota set to ensure the legitimacy of the participatory budget.

The project with the highest number of votes in each district will receive funding from the city's 2022 budget and will be implemented in the following year. With the participatory budget, at least one project per year will be implemented in each district, proposed and chosen by the district's residents. If in some districts the winning idea costs less to implement than the amount allocated for the inclusive budget, the possibility of implementing the runner-up idea will be assessed.

Tallinn's Participatory Budget for 2022 is set at €1 million. This is an increase of €200,000 compared to last year. Three quarters of the total amount will be distributed equally between the districts, and one quarter will be distributed taking into account the number of inhabitants in the district as of 1 July of the current year.

The winners of the vote by district:

In Haabersti, the initiative to create attractive and environmentally friendly beach areas and outdoor showers on Kakumäe beach won with 352 votes. According to the idea, a beautiful pavilion would be built on Kakumäe beach for free use by all, with toilets with water and drainage, outdoor showers, a drinking fountain, a mother-child room and lockable cabinets, which would improve the value of the beach as a recreational area for people with various needs. A total of 2,131 votes were cast by 1,236 people in the district, split between 20 ideas put to the vote.

In the City Centre, the initiative to plant more trees in the city-owned downtown parks, streetscapes and lawns between intersections won with 689 votes. The landscaping will help to alleviate the summer heat and allow residents to spend time and move in the shade of trees, help neutralise the ecological footprint of the city's residents, muffle noise and make the city more beautiful and cosy. A total of 3,522 votes were cast by 1,588 people in the district, split between 26 ideas put to the vote.

In Kristiine, the idea to build three outdoor gyms with variable weights in the city, which would provide the same quality of outdoor training as indoor gyms, came first with 208 votes. The proposed outdoor gyms would be located at Tedre 58, Sõstra 1a and Kännu 86. A total of 976 people in the district cast a total of 1,374 votes, split between the 14 ideas put to the vote.

In Lasnamäe, the idea of installing public toilets close to larger playgrounds in parks won with 389 votes. Stationary toilets are planned in Pae and Kivila parks. In the district, 1,908 people cast a total of 3,306 votes, split between 15 ideas put to the vote.

In Mustamäe, the idea to build an outdoor sports hall in the Tervise 21 sports building in Sütiste forest, which would be of the same quality and comfort as a good indoor sports hall, came first with 488 votes. In the district, 1,718 people cast a total of 3,011 votes, split between the 14 ideas put to the vote.

In Nõmme, 352 votes were cast for the vision of the K50 ski jump hill (Vana-Mustamäe 16) which would add an extended platform on the upper floor of the ski jump tower, from where not only athletes but also residents of the area and other interested people could view the horizon. As the winning idea only requires the preparation of project documentation, the project for the construction of bicycle parks and bicycle sheds at Nõmme train stations and bus stops, which came second in the vote, will also be carried out with the participatory budget funds. A total of 1,813 votes were cast by 1,029 people in the district, divided between the 14 ideas put to the vote.

In Pirita, the proposal to create a varied outdoor school park in the courtyard of the Pirita Economic Secondary School, with climbing attractions, seating areas and bike lanes, among other things, won with 544 votes. The outdoor area would also provide opportunities for socialising after school hours and encourage spending time in the fresh air, while reinforcing what has been learnt in school, such as a sketch map or a multiplication table. In the district, 690 people cast a total of 1,144 votes, split between 18 ideas put to the vote.

In Põhja-Tallinn, the idea to create a Japanese-style mini-garden with a sustainable composition of species won with 530 votes. A diverse, dense mini-forest would attract insects and birds, increase biodiversity, reduce air pollution and noise levels. The idea of a self-regulating and fast-growing mini-forest is inspired by the work of Japanese botanist and plant ecologist Akira Miyawaki. Such ecosystems are key to achieving climate goals. A total of 1,631 people cast 2,710 votes in the urban district, split between 11 ideas put to the vote.