This autumn, a tree will be planted in the Menestyjie Park in Vihti, Nummela, for skier Jari Isometski. The traditional event, open to the public, will take place in the park, weather permitting, on Wednesday 8 October from 17:00.
- Jari Isometsä is one of our most internationally successful skiers. This year is a special year in the history of skiing, as it is exactly 30 years since Isometsä won his first individual world championship medal. It was the bronze medal in the pursuit at the 1995 World Ski Championships in Thunder Bay. In honour of this anniversary and to celebrate Isometsä's extensive skiing career, he has been chosen to receive the tree this year," says Erkki Eerola, Mayor of Vihti.
From 23 June to 15 August, citizens were invited to nominate trees, and a total of 88 suggestions were received. Nominations can be made for an individual in the field of sport or culture, or for a team in a team sport, for example. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, the Life Committee proposed the winner of the tree and the Municipal Council decided on the selection on 15 September.
Jari Isometski will have a macedonia pine planted in the Successful Park. Isometsä is the carp of the ski slopes, whose career exudes tenacity, strength and Finnish guts. The Macedonian pine reflects these very qualities - it stands firm and enduring, just like Jari. This tree does not bend easily, and neither has Jari.
Vihti Municipal Council has awarded the 2024 Sports Achievement of the Year Award to Reijo and Maire Sundell. The award is given in recognition of their long-term and selfless work in the field of physical activity for children and young people. The Sundells have been organising Monday races in Huhmar since the 1980s. Their inspirational and warm-hearted approach has made the races an important part of the village's summer tradition. The municipality of Vihti thanks Reijo and Maire for their valuable contribution to the well-being of the people of Vihti.The Sports Achievement of the Year award is given for a significant sports achievement in the previous year. 38 nominations were received for the Sports of the Year Award.
What is the Park of Success?
Located in the Pajuniity park area in South Nummela, the Park of the Successful is part of the commemorative practice of Vihti municipality. New trees are regularly planted in the park. A plaque on each tree bears the name of the achiever and the art or sport in question. The person to be commemorated may have lived or otherwise influenced Vihti and brought the municipality great national or international publicity. The choice of tree species has been made to reflect the award-winning individuals.
The Successful Park has so far been given a tree:
- 2025: Jari Isometsä, skiing, species Macedonian pine
- 2024: Aleksi Mäkelä, film, tree species red maple 'Brandywine'
- 2023: Viivi Väistö, figure skating, wood species rowan
- 2023: Toomas Lahtinen, riding, species family apple tree
- 2022: Hannes Tuovinen, war veteran, wood species Scots pine
- 2021: Aleksi Kaunisvesi, music, wood species purple tongue
- 2021: Jani Lakanen, orienteering, tree species sugar maple
- 2021: Janne Korpi, snowboarding and trotting, species of wood: big-leaf pine 'Glass Palace'
- 2020: Leena Jokitalo, powerlifting, species red oak
- 2020: Anssi Kela, music, decorative apple tree
- 2020: Pekka Korpi, trot racing, wood species horse chestnut
- 2020: Teodor Koskenniemi, athletics, woods Siberian spear
- 2020: Esa Sievinen, swimming coaching, species: larch
- 2020: Jani Sievinen, swimming, wood species silver salava
- 2019: Janne Hirsimäki and Teemu Nissinen, frisbee golf, wood species Norway spruce
- 2019: Pilvi Huhta, music, species maple
- 2019: Hannu Manninen, combined, species pine
- 2019: Henri Marttinen, golf, species serbian spruce
- 2019: Joanna Remes, Vilja Veikkolainen and Vanessa Sohlberg, cheerleading, species cherry wood
- 2019: Riina Saksa, weightlifting, wood species pole vaulter
- 2019: Markus Selin, film, wood species oak
- 2019: Eeli Tolvanen, ice hockey, wood species pylväshaapa