Public input sought on future of Shevlin Park
Bend Park & Recreation District residents are being invited to help shape the future of Shevlin Park, the nearly century-old, 652-acre, mostly undeveloped slice of nature on growing Bend’s western doorstep.
The park district said is seeking park user thoughts and experience to inform a new management plan, designed to balance park use and user experience with conservation of the park’s natural resources.
“The community’s enjoyment of Shevlin Park is evident by the wear and tear the district is seeing in the park, as well as in reported park user conflicts,” states Jim Figurski, a park district landscape architect.
“As land around the park continues to develop and the district’s population grows, we anticipate that user-related pressures and conflicts will only increase,” Figurski said. “In order to effectively plan for increased use in a manner that respects the park’s natural features, we will be updating the current management plan.”
Park users are invited to share their thoughts by completing a questionnaire and/or volunteering on a citizen advisory committee. The questionnaire is available online through August 29th at www.bendparksandrec.org/Current_Projects/Park-Projects/ or in print upon request.
Park district staff will be in Shevlin Park to talk with park users and distribute questionnaires on Saturdays, August 2nd and August 16th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
In addition, the park district is also seeking a diverse group of citizens for a Shevlin Park Citizens Advisory Committee.
Volunteers are to represent the community at large and participate with the district in the shaping of the management plan. Participation requires a commitment to open discussions and a willingness to accept and support decisions made by group consensus.
Qualifications include:
• Experience, knowledge and interest in community planning.
• Ability to evaluate diverse viewpoints.
• Ability to recommend what is best for the park and the broader community.
• District residency.
To apply for the committee, interested parties need to provide the following information:
• Name, address, phone number, email address and preferred contact method.
• No more than two pages describing why one would like to participate on the committee, past examples of public participation and one’s personal perspective and approach to this and other projects.
Applications should be sent to:
Email: jim@bendparksandrec.org.
– OR –
Mail: Attn: Jim Figurski
Bend Park and Recreation District 799 SW Columbia Street
Bend, Oregon 97702
Applications will be accepted until August 8.
For additional information on Shevlin Park or to request a paper questionnaire be mailed to them, citizens may visit www.bendparksandrec.org or call (541) 706-6152.
