HS Turku In Turku, the monument to Mauno Koivisto has been erected for five years – now the President’s library or terminal has been unveiled

President Mauno Koiviston (1923–2017), either a library, a park or a passenger terminal will be named in Turku. During the spring, the Turku Nomenclature Committee has reviewed various options for how Koivisto can be taken into account in the Turku Nomenclature.

“It is difficult to change the names of existing streets, parks or squares, given that the place should be significant,” the city says in a statement.

There has been controversy in Turku over the memory of the president since Koivisto’s death. Immediately in 2017, the city council proposed the erection of a Koivisto monument in front of the Turku City Hall. Since then, the naming of streets and squares has also been discussed. The idea that the second work of the state memorial statue competition would be taken to Turku has even been thrown into the air. So far, all projects have remained at the stage of funding.

Now the Turku Nomenclature Committee has decided to present three options: the designation of the Turku Main Library as the Mauno Koivisto Library, the designation of the future port park according to Koivisto or the designation of the new passenger terminal of the Port of Turku according to Koivisto.

Library The committee justifies the appointment with Koivisto’s interest in the literature. Koivisto was also a hard-working user of the Turku Library, the press release states.

“By designating the Turku Main Library as the Mauno Koivisto Library, the City of Turku would respect the life work of President Koivisto and at the same time highlight the importance of the library as an institution for lifelong learning and self-development,” the alternative is justified.

When a new joint terminal is built in the Port of Turku in the next few years, the area will be vacated in Linnanniemi not only for the new museum but also for the park.

“This future park, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the port, could naturally be named after President Mauno Koivisto, as it reminds of Koivisto’s activities in the early days of his career in the Port of Turku,” the press release said.

New in addition to the passenger terminal, the street leading to the terminal could also be named Mauno Koivisto Street, the committee suggests.

The committee notes that the building should be named soon, as the terminal does not yet have a well-established name.

“Mauno Koivisto’s dissertation dealt with the port as a workplace, but the foreign port also symbolizes Koivisto’s work as a maintainer of international relations. During his presidency, Koivisto was Finland’s opener and creative actor. According to him, naming the terminal would respect this work, as the Port of Turku has always been a gateway to the world. ”

The last option would require a decision from the Port of Turku Oy in addition to the city.

The Mauno Koivisto conference center, named after Koivisto, is already located in Kupittaa, Turku.

Want to read more about the Turku region? Subscribe to the HS Turku newsletter from here.