Effortless living in Niittykumpu

Niittykumpu is growing rapidly. Alongside residential buildings, a new daycare center and market square are under construction. The development of the area has gained momentum with the arrival of the Länsimetro (The West Metro): Niittykumpu metro station is located at the Niitty shopping center (https://kauppakeskusniitty.fi/?lang=en), while for some residents, the Urheilupuisto station is closer.

It all began with Gräsa Manor

Believe it or not, the Niittykumpu area has been inhabited since the late 1300s. The medieval village of Gräsa was located around the present-day Olari Church hill. The Gräsa Manor, which received noble privileges in the 1400s, was once one of the most significant estates in Espoo. Its large main building was built in the 1800s and demolished in the late 1970s. The Olari Church now stands where the wooden building used to be.

Over the past century, Niittykumpu has developed in bursts, starting in the 1930s with the completion of the Länsiväylä road (formerly Jorvaksentie). In the 1960s and 70s, numerous new row houses were built as Espoo grew rapidly. The most recent growth surge began in the 2000s and accelerated further with improved public transportation thanks to the Länsimetro.

Today, the majority of Niittykumpu’s 8,900 residents are working-age adults between 25 and 54 years old.

Schools and services nearby

Niittykumpu is a great place for students of all ages and those who appreciate recreational opportunities. Niittykumpu School is the oldest primary school in South Espoo, and within a couple of kilometers, you’ll find both a secondary school and several daycares. Adults can quickly reach Espoo and Helsinki main university campuses by metro in just a few minutes.

Grocery shopping is convenient, with stores like Lidl located between Niittykumpu and Urheilupuisto metro stations. If you can’t find what you need locally, Helsinki and Espoo’s commercial centers are just few stops away by metro or bus.

On Niittykumpu’s western border, the Gräsanoja stream flows into the sea at Haukilahti Bay. Pike, large bream, and tench come here to spawn. If watching fish isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of other outdoor activities nearby.
A 15-minute bike ride will take you to the Laajalahti nature reserve or the Espoo Waterfront Walkway, and you can reach the Tapiola sports park in 10 minutes. In winter, you can ski at the Tontunmäki meadow or Tapiola’s Silkkiniitty. The quiet jogging paths of Espoo’s central park are a five-kilometer run away, and the seaside views of Westend are within a 30-minute walk.

In the summer, you can enjoy the sun at Toppelund or Haukilahti beaches, both about 15 minutes away by bike.

Hobbies for all ages

Niittykumpu’s youth are spoiled with free recreational facilities. Niittykumpu School features a game arena, street hockey rink, and ping pong tables. Nearby, at Kouluportinkuja 3, you’ll find a mini arena for ball games, climbing frames, obstacle courses, outdoor exercise equipment, and a mini basketball court. There’s even a skate park with concrete ramps - skaters come for this from far and wide! For art lovers, the EMMA Museum in Tapiola offers exhibitions and activities for children.

For adults, Niittykumpu offers plenty of activities too. You can head to one of the many local gyms, or if dancing is your passion, Star Dance Studio is nearby. For gymnastics, Tapiolan Voimistelijat offers classes in the area. Nearby is also the Tapiola sports park, which includes athletics tracks, artificial turf fields, and ball game courts. The indoor sports center Esport Arena offers group fitness, martial arts, floorball, soccer, and indoor running.

If all this activity leaves you sore, the Finnish Sports Massage Center offers excellent massages at reasonable prices.

Niittykumpu combines the energy of a new residential area with comprehensive services and unbeatable transportation links. Could Niittykumpu be your new home?