Participatory budgeting will bring better-lit pedestrian crossings and an accessible toilet facility to a football stadium
Tartu City Government Press Release
/ A total of 4,650 Tartu residents took part in Tartu’s participatory budgeting vote held from 1 to 7 October, casting 11,666 votes. The ideas receiving the most votes were “Lighting pedestrian crossings after dark” (2,391 votes) and “Accessible Toilet Facilities at Coop Stadium” (1,327 votes).
The winning idea, “Lighting pedestrian crossings after dark”, proposes adding dedicated lighting to the general street lighting at pedestrian crossings, making pedestrians and cyclists more visible to drivers.
The second-placed idea, “Accessible Toilet Facilities at Coop Stadium”, proposes building an accessible toilet facility at Coop Stadium (formerly known as the Sepa Football Centre).
Ranking of ideas
- Lighting pedestrian crossings after dark (2,391 votes)
- Accessible Toilet Facilities at Coop Stadium (1,327 votes)
- Making bus shelters stand out (1,018 votes)
- New Officers’ Park – nature, play and a place for the community (677 votes)
- Making the Raja Street shared-use path safe and usable all year round (666 votes)
- Tartu music trail – a smart, sound-filled urban space (657 votes)
- Low ropes course in Ülejõe Park (651 votes)
- Development of Mathiesen Park (600 votes)
- Mõisavahe nature learning trail for families with children (381 votes)
- Antonius Courtyard – a place full of experiences and inspiration (375 votes)
- Ihaste Sports Park – an active and inclusive space for everyone (363 votes)
- Jaamamõisa Community Park – where nature and community meet (329 votes)
- Creating a green belt along the Ilmatsalu shared-use path (312 votes)
- Ihaste Playground 2.0 – a favourite meeting place for children (286 votes)
- Anne Canal diving tower – a new landmark for Tartu (275 votes)
- Street sports court for everyone in the Puiestee Street schoolyard (273 votes)
- A proper sawdust ski track in Supilinn Sports Park (224 votes)
- Playground in the Variku district (204 votes)
- City centre dog park (202 votes)
- Pump track in Ilmatsalu (187 votes)
- Dog park in the Ropka area (179 votes)
- Stronger Dog Owners – outdoor exercise equipment for dog parks (89 votes)
More information about the ideas is available on the Osalen.ee participatory voting portal.
During the week-long vote, each voter could choose between 22 ideas submitted by fellow residents and cast up to three votes. Under the rules of participatory budgeting, at least the two ideas receiving the most votes will be implemented. The maximum cost of one idea is €100,000. The total budget for Tartu’s participatory budgeting programme is €200,000.
This year, 38 ideas were submitted for Tartu’s participatory budgeting programme, of which 22 advanced to the public vote.
Tartu launched participatory budgeting in 2013, becoming the first local government in Estonia to do so. To date, 22 ideas have been implemented with participatory budgeting funds, with two more currently in progress.
More information about participatory budgeting is available on the Tartu website.
Last changed 07.10.2026
