Ponderosa Park

a covered picnic shelter at ponderosa park

A boy doing a trick at the Ponderosa Skate Park.

The basketball courts at Ponderosa Park.

The off-leash dog area at Ponderosa Park.

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225 Southeast 15th Street, Bend, OR, United States

Directions

This community park is conveniently located in south central Bend, near Bear Creek Elementary School and includes connection to Juniper Park via Coyner Trail.

Features include a playground, basketball court, court marked for pickle ball, restrooms, walking trail, off-leash dog park area, picnic shelter large lawns, and two skateparks which are very popular and enthusiasts can be found from dawn to dusk almost every day of the year.

On snowy days in the winter, the hill next to the ball field is a small but fun sledding hill that’s perfect for small children.

For additional play opportunities, Ponderosa Park also hosts Hal Puddy Field and is directly adjoining Bend Senior High School’s soccer field. The ball field hosts adult softball and youth soccer games during the spring, summer and fall.

On many afternoons in the fall, parking is difficult to find. We recommend you carpool or use alternative transportation whenever you are visiting this popular park. Connections to area neighborhoods, bike routes and trails can be made using the Coyner Trail.

Pickleball Court

Ponderosa Park has a pickleball court marked for play – You’ll just need to bring your own net.

Learn more about Pickleball at Bend Park and Recreation District.

See other pickleball locations.

Hours 5 am to 10 pm

Address 225 Southeast 15th Street, Bend, OR, United States (Directions)

Parking Lot Parking

Size 19 acres

Click here for Park Rules and Guidelines

Shelter located in the center of the park with many activities for kids and families to do and is located off Wilson Avenue entrance and parking lot.

6 fixed rectangle picnic tables under the shelter and 2 square picnic tables outside shelter. (Seating capacity – 50 people, total capacity 100 people)
Adjacent to playground, multi-use courts (basketball or pickleball) and off-leash dog park
Open lawn areas and trails
Coyner Trail – with interpretive signs trail through the park
Skatepark and skate path
Restrooms and water fountain
Field rentals may be available at additional cost
Parking lot off the Wilson Street entrance

Learn more about this rental.

Tournament and Sports Field Rentals

The District coordinates the use of District athletic fields for sports organizations, teams, and general public use. Learn more about reserving this field for your practice, tournament or other public event.

Learn more about sports field rentals.

Care for Parks, Trails & Off Leash Areas

Volunteers help keep Bend’s parks, trails and off leash areas beautiful and safe places for everyone to enjoy!

Adopt-a-Park or Trail or Off Leash Area

Groups, businesses, schools, families or individuals can adopt a park, off leash area or section of Bend’s urban trail system. Volunteers help care for their adopted space by visiting regularly all year – picking up litter, pulling invasive weeds and keeping an eye out for vandalism, weather damage and potential safety hazards. Volunteers make at least a one year commitment and complete a monthly volunteer activity report.

Group Park Projects:

Your group can make a big impact by helping with a landscape maintenance project in a park.

Opportunities may be available in spring and fall, depending on the weather and vary based on the size of the group and current District needs. Projects are typically 2-3 hours and may include activities such as raking planting areas, spreading bark or playground chips, pulling invasive weeds and picking up litter. BPRD staff provides support for your group’s efforts and supplies any tools or materials needed for the project.

For more information about adopting a park or trail or scheduling a project for your group, contact:

Kim Johnson

Community Engagement Supervisor

(541) 706-6127

Email Kim Johnson

Trail, park or property information:

Business hours: (541) 388-5435
After business hours: (541) 389-7665
To report a maintenance issue or lost and found: (541) 388-5435

For feedback on the parks, trails or facilities, email Park Services.

Field Information

These fields are used for Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Football, Lacrosse and other field sports. They are available March 1 through November 1 depending on weather and conditions.

Hal Puddy Field
This ball field has a 50’ pitching distance; 60’, 65′, 70′ and 80’ base distances; and with no outfield fence.

Tournaments and Schedules

Check the calendar for upcoming tournaments and schedules.

Want to host an event here?

Portions of this park are available for sports field rentals for practices and games from April 1 through October 31. All organized sport program use of Bend Park & Recreation District athletic fields requires a reservation and permit. Organized sport program use is defined as any time a group of individuals is practicing, playing contests, conducting drills, camps or other programmed activities under the coordination, direction and supervision of an individual or organization. The reservation process provides a user or organization the exclusive use of a field. Permits are enforced by Bend Park and Recreation District staff. Learn more about sports field rentals.

Other Available Fields:
Looking for other fields? See all rentable sports fields.

For additional information or questions, contact:

Opened in early 2014, Ponderosa Skatepark is open during daylight hours when conditions are dry. Located along the south end of Ponderosa Park near Wilson Ave., between 15th Street, the skatepark consists of an approximately 8,000 square foot main park and 4,000 square foot skatepath and features a variety of street and transition opportunities including quarter- and half-pipes, stairs, rails and ledges. The park elements were designed to be fun and challenging for skaters of all levels and interest.

Park Rules & Etiquette

Please note that there’s a high volume of skaters so be prepared to share the park. Practice control and courtesy so that everyone can enjoy the park safely. To help users skate safely, the District has set forth use rules and guidelines including encouraging users to wear protective equipment, such as helmets and elbow pads, as well as to practice control and keep the surface clean.

Free-style BMX bike and scooter riders are not allowed in the park. Bike and scooter riders are encouraged to use the original skatepark at the northwest corner of Ponderosa Park. The district has no immediate plans for the original park and it is likely to remain a multi-purpose area for some time. Learn more about other skateparks and skating rules.

Skatepark History

Local skatepark advocacy group PUSH (Providing Urban Skate Habitats) partnered with the Bend Park & Recreation District on the new skatepark, providing assistance in design, public outreach and contributing $40,000 in cash and in-kind donations towards the $380,000 project.

Dogs are a part of many Bendites’ lives and involved with their owners in many recreational adventures. In Bend, there’s so much to do with your four-legged friend including:

Walk and run on the trails and paths
Swim in the Deschutes River
Play, walk and run off-leash at nine off-leash areas.

No matter the activity or adventure, it’s important that dog owners manage their dog responsibly so that everyone can enjoy the parks and trails.

City of Bend law and Bend Park & Recreation District rules require that:

Dogs are to be leashed up in public except in official off-leash areas.
Dog owners are to clean up after their dog. To help out, dog waste bags and trash receptacles are available at many Bend parks and trails.

Off-Leash Area Rules

The intent of these rules is to create a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all park users.

No aggressive dogs allowed. Immediately remove your dog from the park if it is misbehaving or acting in an aggressive manner.
Keep dogs on leash outside designated off-leash areas.
Pick up and dispose of your dog’s waste.
Remain in visual sight and voice control of your dog at all times.
Carry a leash for each dog in your care.
Closely supervise young children. Children under the age of 12 may not be in the off-leash area unsupervised.
Accept responsibility for any damage or injury caused by your dog.
Bring no more than three dogs to the off-leash area at any time.
Do not bring a dog in heat to a Bend park.
Do not bring a puppy without a complete cycle of vaccinations to a Bend park.
Display tags showing proof of current license and rabies vaccinations on all dogs.
Consider using natural materials like sticks when playing with your dog in the river.
Please be courteous to neighbors and control excessive barking.

Download a Visitor’s Guide to Dog Parks with tips for having a positive experience at a dog off-leash area.

Kid's in Off-Leash Areas

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in Bend off-leash areas unsupervised. Here is some guidance for those with children in an off-leash area:

Not all dogs are child-friendly. Do not allow your child to approach or pet a strange dog without the owner’s presence and approval.
A running, squealing or screaming child may become a target for many dogs, because the child resembles an injured animal or prey.
Do not let your child have toys or food in an off-leash area.
Children are more susceptible to contracting intestinal worms and other infections from touching grass where feces or urine are present. Be sure your children (and you) always wear shoes in an off-leash park area and wash hands after touching dog play toys.

Small Dogs in Off-Leash Areas

When it comes to off-leash areas, a designated space for small dogs to have a play and activity level that's in their proportion rather than with big dogs can be a great option for small dog owners.

Currently, there are fenced small dog areas at Alpenglow, Riverbend, Pine Nursery and Ponderosa Parks. The criteria for small dogs is less than 15 inches at the shoulder and under 25 pounds.

Alpenglow Park - 61049 NE 15th St. Agility course available
Riverbend Park - 799 SW Columbia St. River access available
Bob Wenger Memorial Off-Leash Area at Pine Nursery Park - 3750 NE Purcell Blvd.
Ponderosa Park - 225 SE 15th St.

If you would like to comment on the small dog parks, email us at info@bendparksandrec.org or call (541) 389-7275.

Learn more about dog-friendly parks and off-leash areas.

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