Katapult, the international guest experience design agency, has announced that it has been selected by The City of Malmö to work on an ambitious destination project in Folkets Park, the oldest folk park in Sweden.
Folkets Park has been welcoming visitors for over 130 years. The park spans over 60,000 square meters and attracts an annual footfall of over 2.5 million people who visit to have fun, relax, and socialise. The City of Malmö aims to boost the park’s appeal and sustainability as a regional destination in Northern Europe.
Ambitious regional destination
Katapult has been appointed to develop concepts for three new visitor attractions in Folkets Park, collaborating with LDP and AJP Consultants on market insights and feasibility studies.
Andy Roberts, head of the real estate and street department at Malmö City, says: “We are excited to have Katapult and their team on board to help shape a new vision for Folkets Park. Their previous work has inspired us to think more ambitiously and incorporate the distinctive stories that make Malmö special. We’re looking forward to continuing this journey together.”
Folkets Park became Sweden’s first “people’s park” when it opened to the public in 1891. It continues to serve as a hub for the city, hosting concerts, cultural festivals, and open events with cultural organisations. It also features playground equipment, restaurants, bars, miniature golf, and theatres. The park also hosted the Eurovision Village this year, as the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malmö for the third time.
Robbie Jones, insights director at Katapult, says: “We’re hugely excited to be working with such a proactive city to enhance their tourism offer and create must-see destinations in Sweden. Their team’s passion and ambition has been inspirational and we look forward to the challenge of creating unique visitor attraction experiences that drive further desirability, footfall and spend to the city of Malmö.”
Last month, Katapult released the results of the Theme Park Fans Survey 2024, in partnership with theme park influencer Parkineer. The study found that theme park visitors’ attention spans are becoming shorter and affecting their entire experience. 72% of respondents said they regularly use mobile phones in parks, with only 19% agreeing that it improves the experience.
