Big Sky Park & Luke Damon Sports Complex, located next to Buckingham Elementary on Bend’s Eastside, is a sports lover’s dream. With fields for baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, and Bend’s own BMX track, it’s a top spot for outdoor fun. Jillian Fortner takes us there in this week’s Park Picks.
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Drake Park, Bend’s iconic over century-old park by scenic Mirror Pond, offers not just a wonderful place to visit year-round but a wide variety of events like Munch & Music, Theater in the Park, and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. In this week’s Park Pick, Jillian Fortner guides us through the park and shares some
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Effective immediately, the Deschutes National Forest has updated and decreased the temporary emergency fire closure area on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District for the Flat Top and Firestone Fires due to increased containment and decreased fire activity. The Flat Top Fire is currently 45,951 acres and 91% contained. The Firestone Fire
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MITCHELL, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management plans to begin upgrades to the Priest Hole Recreation Site on the John Day River on Tuesday, October 1. The site will be closed for public safety during the renovations, which is projected to last until May 2025. The renovations will enhance visitor experience while improving
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said Friday it is increasing its camping, parking and reservation fees to keep pace with the rising cost of utilities, operations and maintenance. Most of the increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the fee. The park system has experienced record visitation as well as
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Agency urges boaters to clean, drain, dry all watercraft after use SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Quagga mussels, an aquatic invasive species, were detected a second time in the Snake River at Twin Falls, Idaho approximately 60 miles upstream from the Oregon border. According to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) the recent positive detection locations include
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Peter Skene Ogden Scenic Viewpoint, located just north of Terrebonne along US Highway 97, offers a welcome place to stop and take in some breathtaking views of the Crooked River Canyon. Jillian Fortner takes us there in this week’s Park Pick. Jillian learned about who Ogden was, and why it’s a great spot to bring
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(Update: Adding expected project timeline) WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Tuesday that the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is receiving a Land and Water Conservation grant of $1,628,498 to help develop a new welcome center and make other improvements to boost the visitor experience at Smith Rock State Park. The
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 32-year-old Beaverton man got lost on a solo hike to the summit of South Sister last weekend as fog and bad weather moved in, prompting a challenging 26-hour rescue effort involving both Deschutes and Lane County searchers and two helicopters that could not land due to the worsening weather. Instead,
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Alpenglow Park is located in a rapidly growing area of southeast Bend, offering features such as a “sprayground,” bouldering area and accessible play areas. Jillian Fortner takes us there in this week’s Park Pick.
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest announced Thursday it has updated and enlarged two temporary emergency fire closure areas on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District due to the Bachelor Complex, Flat Top Fire and Firestone Fire. The Bachelor Complex includes the Little Lava Fire and Backside Fire, as well as 30+ smaller fires within
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Quartz Park is a 6.5-acre park located at the corner of SW Quartz Avenue and SW 21st Street. It features a variety of amenities for visitors, including a playground, pavilion, trails, skate dots and horseshoe pits. Jillian Fortner takes us there – and takes a spin, literally in this week’s Park Pick.
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McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Lane County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday night issued a Level 1 GET READY evacuation notice for an area north of state Highway 126 due to a nearby wildfire, one day after a fire in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area prompted a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation and closed a
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change that would add Brookings to the list of eight Oregon cities where overnight camping is prohibited along the ocean shore within city limits. The proposed rule change was requested through a petition from residents living near Mill
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Central Oregon has a lot to offer, especially a variety of parks. In this weeks Park Picks, Kelsey McGee visited Discovery Park at NorthWest Crossing in Bend. She got to see what it has to offer, as well as what people like about the park. It’s a popular park for many Central Oregonians, adults
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Last Sunday, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams were dispatched to three missions. That brings the number of operations this summer to 40 in total, with one big weekend to go. Summer and winter are typically SAR’s busy seasons, but June through August sees a higher number of dispatches. The
Continue ReadingOne of the world’s deepest lakes is right here in Oregon—Crater Lake, which formed over 7,700 years ago after Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed. Its clear, deep and deep-blue waters offer breathtaking views that can be enjoyed year-round. Jillian Fortner checks out Oregon’s only national park in this week’s Park Pick.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Several Oregon State Parks will close or partially close starting in September for construction work that includes everything from replacing aging infrastructure to adding bathrooms and showers. Some of the work was funded by GO Bonds, Oregon-issued general obligation bonds approved by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021. The $50 million
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Did you know a volcano the size of Rhode Island is just a short drive from Bend? Newberry National Volcanic Monument is home to remarkable geological features and a variety of outdoor adventures. Jillian Fortner takes us there in this week’s Park Picks.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Youth hunters (age 17 and under) who will have completed hunter education by the time of the event can sign up now for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s free pheasant hunts happening around the state starting in September, with more details available at https://myodfw.com/articles/youth-pheasant-hunts ODFW and partners stock pheasants at
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