Mt. Tabor Park battered by 30 downed trees; picnic shelter destroyed
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Frozen pipes and roughly 30 collapsed pine trees caused extensive damage to Mt. Tabor Park’s infrastructure during the severe winter weather that slammed the Portland region with wind, snow, and freezing rain from Jan. 12 to 19.
Portland Parks & Recreation spokesperson Mark Ross told KOIN 6 News that one picnic shelter was destroyed by a fallen tree. Burst pipes in the park’s public bathrooms are also in need of repair. Park gates are expected to remain closed to cars for several days as roads are still blocked by downed trees.
Tigard apt residents: Management no help when pipes burst
“We know how passionate Portlanders are about beloved Mt. Tabor Park,” Ross said. “The storm has hit it hard. We estimate about 30 large conifer trees have fallen around the park.”
Photos of the damage caused to Mt. Tabor Park during a powerful storm in January of 2024. (Linda Sorensen)
Damage assessments for the park are ongoing. Mt. Tabor Park supporters have already offered donations to replace the crumpled picnic shelter, Ross said. However, the city is currently focused on cleanup and repair work and will discuss issues like replacing the gazebo on a later date.
“We appreciate the enthusiasm and ask for patience,” Ross said.
Over 30 Portland roads remain closed due to downed trees, powerlines and ice
The downed trees that damaged Mt. Tabor Park are among the 625 downed tree calls that PP&R Urban Forestry crews have received since Jan. 13. Hundreds of these cases involve trees that collapsed onto city streets, sidewalks, and other infrastructure.
As of Jan. 23, 543 of these fallen trees have been assessed by Urban Forestry arborists. Roughly 142 trees are still awaiting evaluation.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
