Located in Southeast Portland, smack-dab in the center of Franklin’s school boundary sits Mt. Tabor Park. At Tabor, you can always find a lively atmosphere in and around the dormant volcano, which is home to three historic reservoirs, a dog park, and countless roads and trails for all types of outdoor activities.
Tabor is a key aspect of life in Southeast Portland, partly because of the park’s accessibility. Its location geographically and socially connects many neighborhoods together, drawing masses up to beautiful city views and fresh forest paths. A plethora of activities for all kinds of people take place on the mountain, including popular events like the Soapbox Derby, Tabor Dance Raves, and biking events.
In summer, Tabor’s events are frequented by large assemblies of people. Live music by the band Family Mystic occurs weekly on Tuesdays in August. Wednesday night, there are “raves” with live music (sometimes in collaboration with Family Mystic) or a DJ; locals dance, watch the sunset, and even shop in small stalls set up around the park. The weekly event is organized by TaborDance, a small dance group of self-identifying “hippies” who started what is now a weekly summer tradition. Located above the mountain’s middle reservoir, the group sets up a music booth lined with neon lights, smoke machines, and bubble generators. People crowd around the speakers and form dance circles under the booth’s neon light rods. In the center of the dance circle, spinning like a top, you can count on seeing an older woman in heart shaped glasses: Karen Lasher. Lasher describes herself as an “elder” of the TaborDance group, one of the TaborDance originals and an occasional DJ for the events. “Bringing people together on this beautiful mountain is my purpose,” Lasher says, “With this overlooking city view [and] the trees behind us, it has such a feeling of open arms.”
A longtime volunteer and media manager behind the weekly dances, Annette Farrell, says the Wednesday dances are a crucial part of her community: “Participating in this free, local community gathering has become an important part of my own mental health and self care routine.”
No matter the season, biking is also a particularly popular activity at Tabor. On the weekend, bike races take place on Tabor’s roads, and on its forest trails as well, for mountain biking.
The Soapbox Derby is an annual activity in August where people design, create, and race their own Go-karts. With stylistic freedom, creations range anywhere from wooden banana cases built around bicycle frames, to lean race cars. These designs speed down the road from the top of Tabor, sometimes crashing into the side of the road or breaking down, which always adds to the entertainment.
The expanse of Tabor also has sentimental value to the Franklin community specifically; the mountain can be seen from Franklin’s North facing windows, revealing a hill with green trees jutting into the sky. The Franklin Senior Class of 2024 commenced the school year by watching the sunrise from Tabor before their first day, part of an annual tradition where seniors gather on Tabor to start and end their year. In the spring, seniors will watch the sunset from above the reservoir to close out their high school career and appreciate the view together for a final time.
For Franklin athletes looking to get exercise outdoors, the Franklin cross country team takes morning or after school runs to Tabor nearly every day, meeting at the water fountain at Clinton park. Additionally, the park has several tennis courts next to the lower reservoir that are open for anyone wanting to play. Yoga and meditation are available to those who sign up online, as a morning class that takes place on a grassy part of Tabor. This can be a grounding way to start the day and connect with nature!
Despite so many activities, Tabor was recently named the first ‘Urban Quiet Park’ in the country, meaning it is a safe animal sanctuary and has record low decibel levels, which is rare to find in the middle of a city. Not only does Tabor provide a space for people to stay active and have fun, but it is also a space for the animals who live on the mountain to thrive. Many volunteer-based groups including the non-profit The Friends of Mt. Tabor Park help keep Tabor clean and healthy by weeding and removing trash, as well as leading nature walks and working at the visitor center located near the summit. These efforts keep Tabor a quiet oasis for plants, animals, and people.
There is really something for everyone to appreciate about Mt. Tabor. It is a cornerstone location for our wider community to take care of, in order to maintain the health and beauty of its environment. Our urban volcano is a beautiful spot we have the benefit of accessing, so get out there and enjoy Tabor this fall!
