Bend, Ore. – June 9, 2016—The Bend Park and Recreation District is taking action to evaluate the safety and overall experience of its new Bend Whitewater Park. As an immediate step, the Passageway channel at the park will be closed beginning today while evaluations are conducted. The passageway is likely to be closed throughout the summer season.
“Everything we do as an organization is for the enrichment of this community and we can do better here,” said Don Horton, executive director, Bend Park and Recreation District. “The Bend Whitewater Park’s Passageway channel is not meeting expectations and we’re hearing about safety concerns, so it is being closed while we re-evaluate its function. We have not yet met our high goals for this project.”
During several days of record-breaking temperatures, thousands of people experienced the Passageway channel for the first time. The early season river activity has provided opportunity for feedback from many users and observers.
“We deeply appreciate the input received in the past few days because it is helping us serve the community better,” said Horton. “Many people have been enjoying the Passageway and we appreciate the support from people who may be disappointed by this decision. It’s clear that this is not the passageway experience we set out to create, and we need to regroup and see if it can be improved.”
River users can continue to float as in past years by exiting the river prior to the Colorado Ave. bridge and re-entering the river at McKay Park. Signage is being added immediately along the river and at beach put-in locations to indicate the change for floaters.
The decision to close the Passageway channel to floaters was made in consultation with Bend Paddle Trail Alliance leaders who are supportive of the closure.
“The Bend Whitewater Park is the first in the Pacific Northwest and is unique to our geologic area. It’s quite typical in these types of projects to need to make adjustments,” said Justin Rae, president, Bend Paddle Trail Alliance. “BPTA plans to be involved as Bend Park and Recreation District enlists additional experts to evaluate options for improvements.”
The Bend Whitewater Park’s Whitewater channel will remain open for expert river users who enter from downriver at McKay Park for whitewater kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding; however, floating through the area from upstream is not permitted.
Early communications about the bond measure proposal and the project described a safe passageway and Bend Park and Recreation District is holding itself accountable on delivering quality park and recreation experiences for the community.
The current Passageway includes a series of Class I and Class II rapids to accommodate an approximate 8-ft. drop in elevation in a 300-ft. stretch of the river. The channel also serves as a fish ladder providing passage that will continue to be part of the project.
A timeline is in process for additional evaluations by the engineering firm that designed the park, swift water rescue experts and other experts to provide insights and recommendations. As evaluations occur, BPRD will update the public on status and timeline developments.
To begin the process, today, sandbags were installed in the whitewater channel to reduce safety hazards previously identified and to improve performance of the surf wave features used by whitewater enthusiasts.
For floaters:
• It is required to exit prior to the Colorado Ave. Bridge. To portage, follow temporary detour signs to walk on the sidewalk on the west side of Shevlin Hixon Road to reenter the river at McKay Park.
• Wear a life jacket. They are required for all boaters, paddleboarders and children 12 years and under, and are recommended for everyone.
• Consider your own and your children’s abilities before entering the water and always supervise children in and around the water.
• Use equipment intended for river recreation. Rental equipment is available at Riverbend Park and local retailers. Complimentary use of life jackets for children 12 and under is available at the Riverbend Park rental trailer.
Whitewater kayakers, surfers and paddleboarders:
• Access to the Whitewater channel is from downriver at McKay Park or Miller’s Landing Park. Do not access the channel from upriver or via the habitat channel.
• The river-left (west) island is for line-up. There is no public access to the river-right island.
• Life jackets and whistles are required for all boaters and paddleboarders.
• Helmets are recommended. Board leashes, however, should not be used as they can get caught on underwater elements.
• Always scout the conditions as river flows and wave features change frequently.
• Consider the waves above and below and plan your exit routes for each wave.
• Check the Bend Whitewater Park Facebook page for updates and conditions at Facebook.com/BendWhitewaterPark
This article appears in Jun 8-15, 2016.
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The Park needs to own up for lack of education of the public on what is needed to float. Allowing people and kids to float on low quality intek, walmart, costco toy is on the park district. When it reopens get a few lifeguards to screen the entry to the white water park. Tell floaters yes or no. Pull the people out with the wrong tubes no life jackets easy easy easy.
Why not tell the public what the safety concerns are? Management at Parks and Rec should be fired. Classic: government employees with no management experience managing a project like this: Cost overruns, schedule slips, not holding contractors accountable, and producing a park that can’t be safely used still… all Bend tax payers should be outraged and the people that managed this project should be ashamed!!! Resign or removed!!!
I suggest BPRD make it safer for floaters to exit the river for portage in the interim. It is an overused, narrow and hazardous trail filled with pushing and shoving people at this point. I love the Bend Parks Department but this has shown poor planning and insufficient testing. When they modified the surfing channel they should have modified the floater passage. Now we have lost another year to ugly construction and needless delays.
I put more of the responsibility on the user. It is crazy that people decided to float the river before scouting it themselves. I would have loved the opportunity to use the whitewater park this year. I stood on the foot bridge and watched the water, alongwith floaters on several occasions. I made the decision myself that I would not take my young children or a pool floatie. I don’t have that chance now because of irresponsible river users. This is still a RIVER. It seems that people believe the entire length of the “safe passage” should be filled with concrete. I do agree that the outcome of the float channel is not completely as it was sold to the public. But, does anyone truly believe the parks department and trail alliance did not do their best to provide the product sold to the public? They did not set out to disappoint the public. It is still a river, which is used for far more important things than recreation.
It was rough…we had an adequate float but not a paddle to adjust through the Rapids and got caught in the backwash twice…not fun or “safe”. IMO the project was poorly managed and only being shut down before a lawsuit is filed.
Biggest mistake made was advertising “safe passage” and then blaming the public that had a bad experience for trusting them…kinda like discovery park…someone from parks and rec should be fired…
If you were too afraid to use it, then don’t use it. If you think you were ready for it, then use it. It’s not hard, instead you spent millions on a single rapid just too close it before the middle of June. Waste of time, money, anticipation and resources. Thanks for nothing to everyone responsible.
How about spending the unnecessary funds to transform part of the river into an unnecessary attraction we fix the roads. The river construction did nothing but close down a vital artery for traffic and then when it’s “done” it looks unfinished—like when the house is finished before the landscaping—but that’s just how it looks. I’m at a loss as to why this project was even embarked upon and how they justified spending the money on it. Bend Park and Rec employees and directors DRIVE around Bend right? How about infrastructure, potholes, bike lanes and all the other things that should have been put ahead of this ridiculous venture. People actually LIVE in Bend—we don’t all just come here for vacation. Can we cater to locals, please, FOR ONCE!
I agree the passage was wrongly advertised as safe, and was a little rougher than I expected, although still manageable. It’s unfortunate that these issues came up, but I feel Parks and Rec will figure it out. The whitewater park was new ground, and mistakes and setbacks are bound to come with anything that’s new in it’s field. Just bummed that I have to be patient and wait till next summer to use it.
I keep wondering what I’m missing here.
I enjoy stopping on my regular Old Mill stroll to watch the kayakers and surfers battling the river, something well beyond my age and skill range.
But I’m puzzled by the acrimony displayed by the whitewater enthusiasts with regards to the recent closure of the safe-passage channel. I wonder why they would think Bend residents would’ve voted for approval of the bond if we thought we were just going to get the chance to watch without benefit while still lugging our tubes and floaties around the Colorado Street bridge.
As part of the campaign for the Parks and Rec’s bond, we were promised the chance to float all the way to downtown while we got to watch a growing river sport. The new passageway was to be family friendly, with a provision for fish passage as well…indeed, something for everyone. So, when I scanned the conceptual drawing displayed at the Drake Park 4th of July celebration during the construction period, I remarked to a BP&R employee manning the booth on what I supposed to be the fish ladder.
“Oh, no, that’s not a fish ladder, that’s the human passage side. The fish passage is on the opposite side,” she said, pointing to the smooth flowing third of the river.
When I saw the framework as construction was being completed, I thought there were too many obstacles where a tuber could scrape body parts or expensive equipment…which has proven to be the case. And on the recent 90 degree weekend before the passage was closed, I wondered at the kayakers and boarders paddling upstream towards the floaters, creating further occasion for collision.
But BP&R, before closing it, explained it all to me. The passage was implemented as class 1 & 2 rapids to complement the class 3 & 4 in the middle!
Either Parks and Rec sold the public a bill of goods, or the river here is only meant for fish and active whitewater enthusiasts. Any way I can get my portion of the bond money back?