History of Bend Park & Recreation District

The City of Bend incorporated in January, 1905 with a population of 300.

Businesses and private citizens began working with the city to meet the need for public spaces for recreation. Shevlin Park is donated by the Shevlin-Hixon lumber company.

The Women’s Civic League led a fight against subdivision of the beautiful site that is now Drake Park.

Bend Commercial Club forms a group to develop playgrounds. Known as the “Lava Bears,” the group loans its name to the high school football team for their mascot.

First Pet Parade held as part of a three-day celebration that included the Water Pageant.

City of Bend takes over Harmon Park from the school district.

City forms park advisory committee for park and playground development.

City Public Works maintains parks.

The city builds a baseball stadium (now called Vince Genna Stadium) on property acquired from Deschutes County.

The City of Bend creates recreation department and hires Dave Howard as the first director. Prior, the city had operated summer youth recreation activities jointly with the school district.

Wayne Hamilton appointed as new City Recreation Director with two part-time employees.

The new department takes over production of the annual Pet Parade.

Vince Genna hired as an assistant recreation director by the City of Bend.

The Deschutes River Trail was first conceptualized by Vince Genna. His vision was for a trail along the river from Tumalo State Park to forest service lands. Still in the works today, the trail is nearing full connectivity.

Bend’s parks and pool continued to be maintained by the city’s public works department until 1964 when the maintenance function was merged with the recreation programs to form a new City of Bend Parks and Recreation Department. Vince Genna appointed as director.

Bend Parks and Recreation Department receives the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation management. The first year of the award, it is given to the best park and recreation agency in the nation for its population category.

Funds are raised by the Chamber of Commerce to send Parks and Recreation Director, Vince Genna, to Washington, D.C. to receive a 30 Best City Beautification Award by First Lady Pat Nixon and Governor Tom McCall.

As Bend and the surrounding area continued to grow, about one-third of those participating in park and recreation programs now were non-residents of Bend, yet city taxpayers were the sole support of the department. A proposal from a citizens’ group led to a feasibility study, followed by community meetings, and finally the City of Bend Commission resolved to form a special district with boundaries that included the nearby, rapidly developing, unincorporated areas.

The petition appeared on the ballot on May 28, 1974, and the Bend Metro Park and Recreation (BMPRD) District was established by a vote of 983 yes to 541 no votes.

First Board of Directors elected to the park district was Dr. Albert Moody, Constance C. Miller, Mary Jane Newton, Robert L. Coats and Leonard Gray.

District’s tax base decided by voters. The previous budget for the City Parks and Recreation Department was $200,000.

The first section of the Deschutes River Trail, then known as the River Strollway, is dedicated.

Vince Genna, Executive Director, retires. For 37 years, Vince relentlessly advocated for parks in Bend, persuading people to donate land, lend equipment and volunteer labor. On his watch, the District acquired more than 1,500 acres of land – through donations, land trades and a law he helped establish requiring developers to dedicate 8% of their subdivisions to parks.

The Old Mill District opens to the public. Over the following years, this area will feature four parks, Deschutes River recreational access and numerous miles of trail.

Bend Senior Center opens in southeast Bend.

Don Horton, current executive director, is hired.

Pine Nursery Park land is purchased – requiring two acts of Congress.

The District receives its second National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation management.

Juniper Swim & Fitness Center expanded to include 50-meter pool, outdoor activity pool and fitness center.

District voters pass $29 million dollar bond measure to help finance Bend Whitewater Park, Deschutes River Trail projects, new parks and The Pavilion, a multi-use ice and recreation facility. With the bond’s help, completion of the Deschutes River Trail comes within reach.

The District opens the Bend Whitewater Park, a one-of-kind in-river park, and The Pavilion, which features Central Oregon’s only NHL-sized ice rink.

At the national Athletic Business conference, The Pavilion was honored as one of 10 internationally selected Facilities of Merit award recipients. Opsis Architecture, based in Portland, nominated The Pavilion for the design award and shared the honor with the District.

A judge commented that The Pavilion is, “Powerful and poetic – the contrast of the warm of the wood roof plane and the cool of the ice sheet creates a tangible and memorable experience for users.”

In addition, the Bend Whitewater Park was selected as the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association’s 2017 Design Award. The Design Award recognizes superior architectural and/or landscape design and design processes for new or renovated parks or facilities (buildings, parks, park components, trails, etc.) whose construction was completed in the last five years.

The 36-acre park features a lunar-scape skatepark, nine-hole disc golf course, beginner and intermediate bike skills course, paved and unpaved paths and a nature play area. The park design retained more than 60 percent of original terrain as natural space with a variety of wildflowers, juniper trees, native shrubs and grasses.

The long-awaited Larkspur Community Center meets the community’s growing needs across all age groups, including active older adults who have a variety of interests and desires for fitness, recreation and social activities.

The 37-acre park is in one of Bend’s rapidly growing areas and serves as a hub for recreation activities, community gatherings, opportunities to enjoy nature and connections to trails. Alpenglow Park includes an open lawn area, bouldering area, playground and sprayground, event pavilion, off-leash area for dogs, future demonstration garden, and several accessible trails and multi-use pathways.

BPRD maintains and operates more than 3,035+ acres of developed and undeveloped parkland. That includes 84 parks/open spaces and 75 miles of trail.

We offer more than 1,000 recreation programs for all ages and abilities throughout the area and at the Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, Larkspur Community Center, Home of the Bend Senior Center, and The Pavilion. We also hold several community events including the July 4th Pet Parade. More than 550 full-time and part-time staff are employed at the District and more than 1,800 volunteers contributed their time to recreation programs, events and parks this past year.