By Greg Tudor & Andy Meeks

If you live in or have visited Portland, you have likely hiked, biked, played in, picnicked at or simply admired Mt. Tabor Park–SE Portland’s very own volcanic cinder cone–for the playgrounds, the peacefulness, and the excellent views of downtown Portland, Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens.  One of the reasons this park is such a great place to visit is that it’s maintained by Portland Parks & Recreation with the volunteer assistance of the Friends of Mt. Tabor Park.

Friends of Mt. Tabor Park is currently forming a new citizen-based Project Advisory Committee.  Are you or is someone you know interested in getting involved?

The Project Advisory Committee will meet 2-3 times a year to provide overall direction and counsel to the project.

Specific tasks will include:

• Review and revise the annual work plan for the volunteer service projects
• Help identify sources for outside funding
• Review interim and final project reports

Advisory Committee members should:

• Be familiar with Mt. Tabor Park, have some awareness of the challenges the park faces due to the intrusion of non-native vegetation, and have a passion for restoring the presence of native vegetation in the park
• Have one or more of the following areas of expertise: knowledge of non-native and native vegetation (including trees, understory and ground cover); techniques for removing invasives; bird habitat needs; building and sustaining volunteer capacity; and grant writing ability

From the Friends of Mt. Tabor Park website:

The Friends of Mt. Tabor Park was organized as a non-profit group in early 2000, following the major renovation of much of the infrastructure in Mt. Tabor Park, i.e., the amphitheater, playground, ball court, roadway intersections, rest rooms and stabilization of the steep slopes on the east side. Currently, we have over 300 dues-paying members, many of whom are active in the foot patrol, Saturday morning service projects, attending programs, etc.  Most live within the greater Mt. Tabor neighborhood, but many live in other surrounding neighborhoods.

The purpose of the Friends of Mt. Tabor Park organization is to improve and/or help maintain Mt. Tabor Park for the benefit of individuals, organizations and the Park Bureau; to identify and help solve problems; to participate in park planning projects. We work with the Park Bureau, the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association and other community and park user groups to monitor park use and operation, to support effective maintenance of the park, and to help in the successful implementation of the parks goals and vision as stated in the Mt. Tabor Park Master Plan.

For more information about the Advisory Committee, or to find out about monthly work parties at the park, please contact Project Manager Mary Kinnick at [email protected] or call (503)287-6959.

Speaking of Mt. Tabor, don’t forget that Friends of Trees is working with the Bureau of Environmental Services in its Tabor to the River program of sewer, green stormwater, and watershed improvement projects. By planting large street and yard trees with Friends of Trees, you can help contribute to the billions of gallons of stormwater diverted from the sewer systems annually by Portland’s urban canopy–a key component of the Tabor to the River program.

Tudor and Meeks represent the Volunteer & Outreach Program for Friends of Trees.