Residents are still very satisfied with municipal services – Kankaanpää has the best ratings for sports services

The Kankaanpää swimming hall was opened completely renovated at the end of 2019. The swimming hall is one of over a hundred sports facilities in the Kankaanpää area.

Satisfaction with municipal services remains at a record high nationwide. General service satisfaction is at the same level as in 2017, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, which was answered by nearly 11 Finns.

Kankaanpää was one of 43 municipalities in the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities' Distinguished Municipality Finland 2025 research programme. Satisfaction is described in the study by the service satisfaction index, the average of which in the study municipalities was 3,81 (scale 1-5). Kankaanpää was slightly above the average of the municipalities, with an average of 3,84. The accessibility index of services in Kankaanpää was also slightly better than the average (3,76), at 3,79. Nationally, the indices had increased in most of the study municipalities.

In Kankaanpää, the survey sample was 500 people and 151 people responded, resulting in a response rate of 30,2%.

Kankaanpää residents satisfied with sports services

In terms of service satisfaction, Kankaanpää received the best ratings for its sports services, coming in second in the municipality comparison after Asikkala, which was awarded the Mobile Municipality of the Year 2018. Good ratings were given for upper secondary school and library services, basic art education, municipal plot and housing supply, and building supervision. People were also satisfied with the care of green areas and the cleanliness of the environment.

– The results of the study are encouraging, especially with regard to sports services, says the mayor. Mika Hatanpaa. – The city's large investments in the sports center and other local sports facilities have not gone unnoticed. The people of Kankaanpää are mobile people and this of course has an impact on general well-being.

In general, the city received good average ratings, such as in early childhood education and education. Technical services also received good ratings. The least satisfied residents were with public transport services.

The study also included social and health services. Of these, those most satisfied were with dental care and substance abuse services, while those least satisfied were with family counseling, child welfare, and services for the disabled.

The study also asked residents if municipalities competed with each other to determine which municipality or city was “good to live in,” how would you rate your current home municipality in the competition? 56% of Kankaanpää residents rated Kankaanpää as very good or good.

When asked about the three most important things in their home municipality, Kankaanpää, the following came up: a good living environment, good services, and safety/closeness to nature.

Diverse and comparable data to support decision-making

The survey conducted is one of the most extensive surveys mapping the views of local residents. The Association of Local and Regional Authorities has conducted similar and similarly extensive local resident surveys regularly since the 1990s. The most recent local resident surveys were conducted as part of the ARTTU2 research program in 2015 and 2017. Kankaanpää was also involved in these studies. In comparison, service satisfaction had now decreased slightly compared to 2017, but people were more satisfied with the accessibility of services than before.

– The results of the research program provide a comprehensive package of comparable information, based on which it is good to continue working on the development of services, stated Mayor Hatanpää. – The results will be reviewed next spring with both officials and elected officials. The results of social and health services will also be reviewed with the North Satakunta Basic Services Association (PoSa).

People are satisfied with the city's handling of the corona situation - promoting entrepreneurship is considered the most important factor in sustainable development

As part of the survey, residents were also asked about their opinions on the city's success in managing the coronavirus situation. 66% of Kankaanpää residents were satisfied with the management of the coronavirus situation in general, 62% were satisfied with coronavirus communications, 53% were satisfied with information about municipal services related to the coronavirus situation, and 55% were satisfied with ensuring the safety of residents during the coronavirus situation.

In addition, questions were asked about sustainable development and the issues that local residents think should be emphasized in this regard. Investing in entrepreneurship and work emerged as the most important issue, while reducing traffic emissions was last on the list of nine items.

Research results

Additional information

Mika Hatanpää, Mayor, City of Kankaanpää
044 577 2210, [email protected]