Participatory budgeting brings young people to swimming and the gym for free

The city's participatory budgeting will implement a proposal for free activities for all ages during 2026. The budget for the implementation of the proposal is 10,000 euros. The idea came from the city's children's parliament. After receiving almost 400 votes from city residents, it became one of twelve ideas to be implemented this year.

Young people's wishes were investigated in two hobby surveys at the beginning of the year. In both, wishes for swimming and gym activities in particular emerged. Efforts will be made to implement other hobby wishes that have been raised later this year.

Free swimming and gym pass for 15–19 year olds

Young people born between 2007 and 2010, i.e. between the ages of 15 and 19, can now apply for a free swimming and gym pass. The pass entitles you to swim in the indoor and outdoor swimming pools and use the indoor swimming pool's gym. The pass can be obtained by young people aged 15 to 19 who permanently live in Riihimäki. The pass entitles you to ten single visits.

Free swimming lessons for 6th–9th graders continue – moving to the outdoor swimming pool in June

The free swimming session on Thursday afternoons offered to 6th–9th graders will continue with the support of participatory budgeting throughout the rest of the year. The swimming session is self-guided, and you can come alone or with friends. The swimming session is on Thursdays from 2:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participation in swimming requires registration the first time. In June, the swimming session will move to the outdoor swimming pool.

After the summer break, youth swimming sessions will resume in September. More detailed instructions for participation and registration in the fall will be sent at the beginning of the school year through Wilma.

More information

Additional information and application form for swimming and gym passes (forms.office.com)

Additional information and registration for free swimming lessons for 6th–9th graders (uusi.kuntapalvelut.fi)

Presentation of the participatory budget item Free hobbies for all ages on the city's participation platform (osallistu.riihimaki.fi).

This year, ideas from city residents will be implemented with funding from participatory budgeting (riihimaki.fi).