Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), in partnership with the Friends of Portland Community Gardens, announce the opening of the new Mt. Tabor Community Garden, the 47th garden in the network of community gardens managed by the City.
The Mt. Tabor Community Garden is the first garden in the Mt.Tabor neighborhood. The installation of the garden fulfills one aspect of the Mt. Tabor Master Plan, which was updated in 2008. Portland Parks & Recreation worked closely with Mt. Tabor neighbors, the Friends of Portland Community Gardens and other stakeholders in designing the garden to reflect the aesthetic of features found in Mt. Tabor Park, and to create an inviting entrance to this valued regional asset.
The Portland Community Gardens program has provided gardening opportunities for the physical and social benefit of the people and neighborhoods of Portlandsince 1975. Portland Community Gardens are developed and operated by volunteers and PP&R staff, offering a variety of activities. The Friends of Portland Community Gardens group raised over $13,000 to help fund the construction of the garden. They also provided tools for the garden through a donation from Ames True Temper.
Nearly 300 people have signed up to use the 85 plots at the new garden. Gardeners have already organized a group of volunteer site leaders and a group that will work with Produce for People, a program that encourages gardeners to grow and donate produce to local emergency food providers.
In order to help mitigate the impacts to neighbors, PP&R worked with the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association, Office of Neighborhood Involvement Crime Prevention, Friends of Portland Community Gardens, and garden neighbors to craft a Good Neighbor Agreement. This agreement is the first of its kind for a community garden.
About Portland Community Gardens
Mt. Tabor Community Garden becomes the 47th community garden in Portland. Construction was completed in the fall of 2012. PP&R opened Clarendon Community Garden in March 2012, Frazer Community Garden in April, and Errol Heights Community Garden in May 2012. Ed Benedict, Grant, and Kenton community gardens opened in June. NE 72nd Ave. Community Garden opened in October 2012 and the Helensview Community Garden opened in March 2013. Together, these gardens add 450 new plots to the City of Portland’s Community Gardens Program.
1000 Gardens Initiative
Through our Community Garden Initiative, the City worked with partners to reach our Climate Action goal of 1,000 new garden plots by the end of 2012.
In 2009, Commissioner Nick Fish launched the "1,000 Gardens" Initiative to help meet the demand for places to grow food. The City's Community Gardens team worked with dozens of community partners to reach the Climate Action goal of 1,000 new garden plots by the end of 2012.
Mt. Tabor Community Garden is the last garden to open under the 1,000 Gardens Initiative.
“I am so proud of our many partners who helped us reach this ambitious goal,” shares Commissioner Nick Fish. “Together, we have more than doubled our stock of community gardens in Portland.”
For more information, call 503-823-5300 or visit www.portlandparks.org.