The FIRI Central Park project is a four-year research initiative exploring the role of sound in shaping the experience and ecological value of Helsinki’s Central Park (Keskuspuisto). Running from 2025 to 2028, the project is a collaboration between researchers at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and other partners, aiming to deepen our understanding of how natural and human-made sounds contribute to and impact urban life and biodiversity.
Today, soundscapes—the mix of sounds that define part of the character of a place—are seen as essential not just for wildlife communication, but also for human wellbeing. Parks are more than green spaces; they’re also sonic spaces where people seek calm, connection, and relief from the noise of the city. But what makes a park feel “quiet”? And how do people experience and value that quietness?