Bend Park and Rec opens survey, seeks input on 33 possible riverfront projects
Bend Park and Rec District
Riverfront area of Sawyer Park in Bend
Access, habitat restoration work planned over the next decade
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Bend Park and Recreation District is planning for recreational access and riparian habitat restoration at parks along the Deschutes River, and is seeking public input on a preliminary list of possible projects.
BPRD has 16 parks along the Deschutes River, which include 25 designated access points and over 94 user-created access points to facilitate play in the water.
The popularity of river use has resulted in impacts such as trampled vegetation, user-created access paths and erosion along the riverbank, district officials said Wednesday.
The Deschutes River Trail is always a fine destination to walk off a holiday meal, get some sunshine or just spend some time in nature. And if youâre in the vicinity of downtown Bend, First Street Rapids Park, located just blocks to the north, makes for quick and easy access.
Situated on the west side of the river beneath Awbrey Butte, the Deschutes River Trail affords views of paddlers both sitting down and standing along with wildlife that includes ducks and at least one swan that appears to be living below the rapids.
From First Street Rapids, with just a short stretch of on-street walking, itâs possible to connect to Sawyer Park, which also straddles both sides of the river, and continue north to Archie Briggs Canyon.