Residents voice concern over risky rapids in water park

With recent record-breaking temperatures, many have been floating the Deschutes River as a way to cool off. But some floaters have complained that the “safe passage” in the new Whitewater Park is unsafe.

Residents voiced their concerns Tuesday evening at a Bend Parks and Recreation District Board meeting. One resident questioned the park district’s credibility.

“The district at this point is erasing ‘safe passages’ from history. That was the way the bond was sold, and now we’re worried about kids getting hurt,” said one Bend resident.

Many residents are upset because the park’s man-made water attraction, formerly labeled safe passage, is leaving many with scrapes, bruises or other injuries.

One man at the meeting said the signage needs to be changed and improved.

“They need to be warned when they go through the passage that those risks are real,” said another resident.

The passageway channel includes Class 1 and 2 rapids. A 10-year whitewater guide argued that Class 1 and 2 rapids are not safe for the average floater.

“It’s my understanding that Class 2 rapids are where most deaths occur, and to have signs that it’s a ‘safe passage’ is troubling,” the former guide said.

KTVZ has received more than 300 comments on our website and Facebook page about this issue.

One woman said her family was cut to shreds going down the safe passage in their kayak and that the city “needs to close it until they can fix it,” as she can “easily see someone dying or being seriously injured.”

Others said they love the passage — and if you don’t like it, you can go around it on foot.

One wrote: “This isn’t a pool, it’s a river. There’s always going to be some danger involved.”

Floaters do have the option to exit the river at the Colorado Bridge and re-enter the river at McKay Park beach. The district said that is the safest option.

At the meeting, the board did not discuss residents’ concerns about the whitewater passage, but did approve a budget amendment to help make one of the surf waves safer on the adjacent channel that has more turbulent Class 3 and 4 rapids.