Featuring the Bend Heroes Memorial, this riverfront park is the gateway to one of Bend’s historic neighborhoods.
Brooks Park is just over the Newport Street bridge from Bend’s downtown area, making this a great place to walk to for lunch and enjoy a beautiful view of the river.
Brooks Park features open lawn, river access, picnic tables and a memorial plaza.
Learn more about the memorial plaza in the tab featured below.
The Bend Heroes Memorial Plaza
The Bend Heroes Memorial in Brooks Park was dedicated on Veteran’s Day in 2009. The plaza and surrounding plantings are dedicated to local veterans and first responders and serve as a place where all can go to reflect.
The memorial plaza is paved with numerous inscribed bricks which are dedicated both in honor and in memory of people who have served our country and community.
A map and guide to the bricks is available below. To locate a brick, please open both links with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use the search feature available in to find a specific brick.
Dedicated Bricks
The plaza includes an area paved with bricks which are dedicated both in honor and in memory of people who have served our country and community.
The cost for an engraved brick is $50. Proceeds cover the cost of the brick and engraving and the balance remains in a fund to support the plaza. Orders for engraving are placed twice a year – mid-April and late September, for placement in the plaza prior to Memorial Day and Veterans Day.. Bricks are placed in the plaza according to the area of service for the person listed on the dedication, if space is available or placed in the next open space if that area is filled.
Proceeds from the sale of dedicated bricks supports ongoing maintenance of the site and amenities added to the plaza.
To order an engraved brick, download and complete the Dedicated Brick Order Form and mail to:
Bend Park & Recreation Foundation
P.O. Box 1212
Bend, OR 97709
For additional information on the memorial plaza, please contact:
The Deschutes River is home to many species of native fish and some of the most idyllic fishing spots reside in Bend parks. In addition to river fishing, the District also features fishing ponds at Pine Nursery and Shevlin Parks that are stocked by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Shevlin Pond is open to youth 17 years and under. Learn more.
Licenses: All state angling licenses and regulations apply at all locations. Fishing is open to youth, 17 years and under, and anglers with disabilities. Youth aged 12 to 17 must have a juvenile fishing license. Limit of two fish per day, eight inch minimum length.
Bait: Whether bait and/or fly fishing is allowed depends on location. Please check ODFW’s website for more information as regulations may change.
Parking for Floaters:
Park & Float is now closed for summer 2023. Contact Tumalo Creek for rental opportunities, weather-permitting, through the rest of September.
Park & Float is at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, and has free parking, rental services, access to the river shuttle and more. It’s a convenient one-stop location for a day of river fun. Shuttle rides have a $6 fee.
Parking Options:
Park & Float location at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. One block south of the whitewater park. (Directions)
Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St. (westside) (Directions)
McKay Park, 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. (westside) (Directions)
Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd. (eastside) (Directions)
Ride the River shuttle service:
The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 17 (weather permitting) and ending on Labor Day. $6 round trip makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 am to 7 pm. Advanced tickets available at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Reservations for 2023 season are no longer available. On your reservation date, check-in at Park & Float for the wrist band valid the entire day.
Parking is available at Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, Miller’s Landing Park and Park & Float (across from The Pavilion). It’s only a block away from McKay Park and about a one-mile walk to Riverbend Park. Please respect neighborhoods, businesses and parking time limits.
We don’t recommend parking at Riverbend Park, floating to Drake Park and then walking back. It’s an option, but the walk back will be about two miles. A better option is parking in “the middle” across from The Pavilion and splitting the walk up to one mile before and one mile after instead.
We also don’t suggest shuttling vehicles as parking is extremely limited and may not even be available in the area by Riverbend Park and/or Drake Park. There is also a new neighborhood parking permit required.
features
Bend Heroes Memorial Plaza
The Bend Heroes Memorial Plaza
The Bend Heroes Memorial in Brooks Park was dedicated on Veteran’s Day in 2009. The plaza and surrounding plantings are dedicated to local veterans and first responders and serve as a place where all can go to reflect.
The memorial plaza is paved with numerous inscribed bricks which are dedicated both in honor and in memory of people who have served our country and community.
A map and guide to the bricks is available below. To locate a brick, please open both links with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use the search feature available in to find a specific brick.
Dedicated Bricks
The plaza includes an area paved with bricks which are dedicated both in honor and in memory of people who have served our country and community.
The cost for an engraved brick is $50. Proceeds cover the cost of the brick and engraving and the balance remains in a fund to support the plaza. Orders for engraving are placed twice a year – mid-April and late September, for placement in the plaza prior to Memorial Day and Veterans Day.. Bricks are placed in the plaza according to the area of service for the person listed on the dedication, if space is available or placed in the next open space if that area is filled.
Proceeds from the sale of dedicated bricks supports ongoing maintenance of the site and amenities added to the plaza.
To order an engraved brick, download and complete the Dedicated Brick Order Form and mail to:
Bend Park & Recreation Foundation
P.O. Box 1212
Bend, OR 97709
For additional information on the memorial plaza, please contact:
Fishing in Parks
The Deschutes River is home to many species of native fish and some of the most idyllic fishing spots reside in Bend parks. In addition to river fishing, the District also features fishing ponds at Pine Nursery and Shevlin Parks that are stocked by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Shevlin Pond is open to youth 17 years and under. Learn more.
Licenses: All state angling licenses and regulations apply at all locations. Fishing is open to youth, 17 years and under, and anglers with disabilities. Youth aged 12 to 17 must have a juvenile fishing license. Limit of two fish per day, eight inch minimum length.
Bait: Whether bait and/or fly fishing is allowed depends on location. Please check ODFW’s website for more information as regulations may change.
Float the River
Parking for Floaters:
Park & Float is now closed for summer 2023. Contact Tumalo Creek for rental opportunities, weather-permitting, through the rest of September.
Park & Float is at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, and has free parking, rental services, access to the river shuttle and more. It’s a convenient one-stop location for a day of river fun. Shuttle rides have a $6 fee.
Parking Options:
Park & Float location at Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. One block south of the whitewater park. (Directions)
Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St. (westside) (Directions)
McKay Park, 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. (westside) (Directions)
Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd. (eastside) (Directions)
Ride the River shuttle service:
The Ride the River shuttle starts and ends at Park & Float, beginning June 17 (weather permitting) and ending on Labor Day. $6 round trip makes transportation easy for river users with shuttles departing every 15-20 minutes from 11 am to 7 pm. Advanced tickets available at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. Reservations for 2023 season are no longer available. On your reservation date, check-in at Park & Float for the wrist band valid the entire day.
Parking is available at Riverbend Park, Farewell Bend Park, Miller’s Landing Park and Park & Float (across from The Pavilion). It’s only a block away from McKay Park and about a one-mile walk to Riverbend Park. Please respect neighborhoods, businesses and parking time limits.
We don’t recommend parking at Riverbend Park, floating to Drake Park and then walking back. It’s an option, but the walk back will be about two miles. A better option is parking in “the middle” across from The Pavilion and splitting the walk up to one mile before and one mile after instead.
We also don’t suggest shuttling vehicles as parking is extremely limited and may not even be available in the area by Riverbend Park and/or Drake Park. There is also a new neighborhood parking permit required.