Parkano

Parkano is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located 84 kilometres (52 mi) north of Tampere in the Pirkanmaa region. The population of Parkano is 6,358 and the municipality covers an area of 852.16 km² of which 57.50 km² is inland water. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

Attractions, nature hiking destinations and events

Parkano has a variety of places to visit, nature experiences and events for permanent and summer residents as well as guests.

Cultural sites

Parkano Church is a wooden cruciform church . The church was first introduced in 1805. The church rather varied bricked bell tower was completed in 1889. The church and the bell tower are built heritage protected by law.
The cemetery in the center of Parkano was inaugurated in 1805 and was later expanded. A wooden passageway building on the edge of the churchyard. 201 heroic corpses have been buried in the heroes‘ cemetery. A monument to the fallen of 1939-44, made by the sculptor Vilho Aalto , has been erected near the cemetery .
The Parkano Homeland Museum operates in a former granary completed next to the church in 1890. The museum opened to the public in 1958. The museum building houses the departments of the ‚ Baron of Parkano ‚ and the church museum, as well as local artifacts.
The Parkano Forest Museum was opened to the public in 1991. It is located about 12 kilometers north of downtown. The museum area has an exhibition hall, a forest cabin, a sauna , a horse stable , a log pontoon and forest machines . In the vicinity of the museum you will find a nature trail, Messukallio, a beach , sheds and campfire sites.
The Parkano Region Automobile Museum opened in 2009. The museum was operated by the Parkano Region Mobilists‘ Association ^.
The school and culture campus Kaarna is becoming a new attraction in Parkano . Its design has taken into account the goal of more efficient use of public spaces. The multi-purpose building is suitable for studying during the day and for hobbies in the evenings and on weekends. An elementary school and a high school will be located on the school campus. The interiors are convertible and the furniture can be moved. The auditorium serves as a learning space, but also as a theater and music space. The gym has a floorball court and a climbing wall. The school campus will be completed in 2019.
The Parkano City Library was opened and renovated in 2017. The planning took into account the efficient use of the premises. The versatility of the library facilities makes it possible to organize various events: literary events, game nights, live concerts and other events. The library cooperates as a learning environment with schools. Art exhibitions are also held there.
The water tower , which serves as a landmark of Parkano, was erected on April 1, 1970. A total of 40 meters high, 600 cubic steel water tower is one of the most special products manufactured by Parkano Oy
Käenkoskikeskus is a party and experience place in Parkano, about 3 km from the center of Parkano. Its dance floor was completed in 1958 in collaboration with the Parkano Athletes and War Brothers Association.

Nature Hiking destinations

Fence waters belong to the Natura 2000 area . The shores of the lake chain are rocky and rugged. Kaidatvedet is a hiking and fishing area 10 km from Parkano city center. Landscape Ferry Water Swallow cruises on Kaidoillaves.
Mount Alkkian rises to a height of 201 meters above sea level. A specialty is the beach stones that tell the story of the post- glacial sea and lake phases. The area is managed by Metsähallitus and Järvi-Suomen Luontopalvelut. Alkkianvuori is located on Lake Kuivasjärvi on the west side of Highway 3; The distance from the center of Parkano to Alkkieanvuori is about 28 km,
The wedding oasis consists of marshes and natural forests, about a third of which are already protected as a nature park. Häädetkeidas is located along Parkano-Karviantie 274 on the border of Parkano and Karvia, less than 24 km from the center of Parkano.
Seitseminen National Park is a nature reserve in the western part of Lake Ylöjärvi and on the border of Ikaalinen. There are marked routes and nature trails. Seitseminen Nature Center offers accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the outdoor and hiking terrain of the national park. Seitseminen National Park was established in 1982 and is managed by Metsähallitus. It is less than 33 km from the center of Parkano via Parkano-Kurutie 332. The hiking trail called Baron’s Taival runs from Parkano through Lake Aurejärvi to Seitseminen National Park. ^[

Events

Market Day is a traditional event on Fridays in Parkano. Parkano Market is located along the main street in the old center.
Art Festivo – a music and cultural event has been held since 1994 in Parkano and Kihniö. There are a variety of experiences for all ages interested in culture.
The Pirkanmaa Wilderness Fair is an event for the whole family in Parkano.
During the summer, ITE art spreads in the parks and streets of Parkano city center.
In the courtyard of Käenkoskikeskus, there is the summer theater Parkka near the lake scenery. It has performed numerous plays over the years.

Parkanon sports facilities

The Parkano Ice Rink has the Parkano Hockey Association, which was founded in 1983. The idea was to offer children and young people the opportunity to play hockey and to help every child and young person develop in the way required by their wishes and abilities.
Parkano Sports Hall was built in 1978 and renovated in 2000. It is located in the Pahkala district next to the water tower. The sports hall is a sports venue, a dance venue, a concert venue and a venue for various events. In the sports hall you can play various ball games or work out in the gym and weightlifting hall.
Parkano has 3 sports fields : Pahkalanniemi, Koulukeskus and Viinikka.
Parkano has private horse enthusiasts and stables. Parkano Ratsastajat ry is an active Parkano riding sports club that started in 1984.
The Ikaalinen Golf Country Course is located in Ikaalinen Riitiala, about 14 km from the center of Parkano.

Rafting

Kalaisa Viinikanjoki flows in front of Parkano city center. The river is 4 km long, the top 3 km of which belong to the Viinikanjoki special fishing area. Parkano Sports Fishermen’s Association maintains its fish management. In addition to trout and mussels , the river’s natural fish include perch , pike , pike , roach , mackerel and shellfish . Information on fishing permits and rules can be found on the Parkano Sport Fishermen’s website.
The rapids required for the permit in the Vahojärvi community area are: Vesakoski, Lierunkoski, Riihikoski and Lehtiniemenkoski. The length of the river area between the rapids is 2 km. The main prey fish is trout. Information on rapids fishing permits in the Vahojärvi community area on the Vahojärvi website.

Food culture

In the 1980s, Parkano’s parish dishes were called pork soup, lye fish soup, fried cheese and Parkano’s anthrax.

Educational Institutions

Parkano closed its last village school in North Parkano in 2017. The school and culture center Kaarna, which was completed in the city center, opened its doors on 8 August 2019. About 700 students and almost 100 staff members began their studies there. In addition to basic education, Parkano has a high school with a musical theater line, as well as Iisakki Vocational School, Ylä-Satakunta Music College , Petäjä College (formerly Parkano Citizens‘ College ) and Pirkanmaa Adult High School, which belong to the Western Pirkanmaa Association . Citizens‘ College and Adult High School have won both the Ministry of Education’s and Finland’s quality awards in 2003 and 2006.

Services

The city of Parkano provides its residents with services, most of which are defined by municipal law: education , kindergarten , culture , youth , library , urban planning , land use , water production , energy production , waste management , environmental services, social, health, fire and rescue services . In Parkano, Kolmostien Terveys Oy, a joint venture between the Pihlajalinna Group and the City of Parkano, is responsible for the production of social and health services. The services are intended for persons who are covered by the social and health services of Parkano and Kihniö.

The majority of Parkano’s shopping services have gradually moved from the old center of Parkano to Kolmoskeskus shopping center along Highway 3 , where many passers-by can also go shopping.