This April, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will open a new bike path and multiuse trail leading to Mt. Tabor Park from SE 64th Avenue and SE Division Street. This well-lit and wide paved path borders the western edge of PP&R’s new maintenance shop. The 500-foot walkway significantly reduces the walking distance for people living near SE Division when visiting the park. It connects users to a freshly resurfaced segment of SE 64th Avenue that has a paved sidewalk on its eastern edge.
In 2021, crews began construction on the PP&R Maintenance Yard property, initially designed as horse stables in the early 1900s. Over the years, crews modernized the central maintenance facility at Mt. Tabor Park with new buildings, offices, greenhouses, and storage areas. The improvements implemented plans from 2008 through funding that included the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond and System Development Charges. The Mt. Tabor Yard is the primary dispatch point for PP&R maintenance and nursery services across Portland, with over 160 maintenance employees working from this location. The street improvements and pathway are minor compared to the overall project, but park visitors will immediately recognize the benefits of the new access point. Private property along SE Division Street blocks most entrances to Mt. Tabor Park, making this pathway significant for people not driving to the natural area.
The new pathway is lined with lampposts, mimicking the classic design seen throughout Mt. Tabor Park and other PP&R properties of a similar age. Midway along the path, a metal bridge crosses over a large bio-swale area used for stormwater management. Several seating areas allow people to wait for members of their party to arrive or take a peaceful rest away from the busy street. Landscaping features many trees and natural ground cover that will help absorb rainwater that tends to follow this path down the mountain.
PP&R expects to open the bike path and multiuse trail to the public around April 1st, 2024. Officials will plan a community celebration later this year when crews complete the Mt. Tabor Maintenance Yard project. The new facilities should help the parks bureau staff work more efficiently, and the improved storage space will protect the city’s equipment investments. Starting in April, residents can glance east while walking along SE 64th Avenue and see the PP&R maintenance and horticultural services staff working to keep Portland’s green spaces accessible.
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