Will Portland Bury its Historic Reservoir?
Mt. Tabor Park reservoir overlooks downtown Portland
Credit: Swami Photo
Apr. 22, 2003
Dear Preservation 911,
We are having a preservation emergency here in Portland, Ore.
I am a member of a grassroots organization known as the Friends of the Reservoirs, which is attempting to save our city's 100-year old open reservoirs from destruction by the city's Water Bureau. These reservoirs have been used for over 100 years for Portland's drinking water. Not only are they an integral part of the water system, they also serve as focal points within Mount Tabor Park. This unique interaction of water and public space was first identified by the Olmsteds in 1903.
Citing terrorism fears in the shadow of Sept. 11, the city wants to replace the reservoirs with buried storage tanks and develop new park space in their place. A public advisory committee is currently helping decide "what goes on top."
The Friends of the Reservoirs strongly opposes the current public process and the city council's decision in May 2002 to bury the reservoirs. We feel that the public was unfairly excluded from discussing alternatives to reservoir burial. Furthermore, there is very little public support for this project.
Our group, the Friends of the Reservoirs, have nominated the reservoirs for National Register consideration.
We need all the help we can get from all available sources. Right now, we are raising money for our pending legal case against the city. We are also trying to raise public awareness of this project. But we need more help.
Please feel free to contact me. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kevin Bond
Secretary of Friends of the Reservoirs
Portland, Ore.
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