Caring for our Parks
Bend's beautiful parks host a wide variety of activities and events throughout the year ranging from community-wide cultural events to individuals relaxing in their favorite park. Bend Park and Recreation District oversees, maintains and develops parks, trails and open space in Bend and surrounding areas. Since 1995, the District has been involved in an aggressive park rehabilitation program as a result of a voter approved levy. The levy-supported projects were completed in 2003, however, maintenance projects continue to be funded through the general fund in order to keep our parks and facilities up dated and safe. If you have any questions regarding park maintenance, please contact Ed Moore, Park Services Director, at 541-388-5435.
Park Services full-time custodians, Katrina Ross-Schulzke and Karen Kroener are pictured here in front of Drake Park restroom, one of our many facilities they keep clean and sanitized for Bend Parks and Recreation. Together they help provide a great service to our park users who appreciate a clean restroom!
Park Projects
Beyond the routine maintenance program that keeps our parks clean, green, safe and beautiful, there are a number of larger projects our staff is working on.
District Composting Project...The District has developed a successful composting system, using a variety of composting techniques to recycle over 45,000 pounds of pine needles, grass clippings and limbs that are removed from the parks every year during various maintenance activities. The goal is to reduce costs by diminishing landfill tipping fees and to improve the health of our parks by improving fertility as well as saving water.
Forest Health Projects...The district received three grants to assist with management operations in Shevlin Park this past year. A $15,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry offset the cost of fire fuel thinning to preserve the parks old growth timber. A $9,000 grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board assisted the district with the fight against invasive weed species along Tumalo Creek. An $8,500 grant from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Restoration and Enhancement Board was used to dredge the Aspen Hall pond and build a fishing dock to improve fishing and access for the physically challenged.
