New community park on the horizon for SE Bend

A new feature on Bend’s southeast side is on the way — 37 acres of park land that will be developed by the Bend Park and Recreation District.

The future community park is in an area that is currently busy with construction, with more on the way.

“We acquired the property last week — it’s very exciting,” Michelle Healy, the park district’s director of strategic planning and design, said Tuesday.

The property borders 15th Street and the proposed Murphy Road extension.

“Southeast Bend is recognized in all of our planning as a pretty park-deficient part of town and part of the district,” Healy said.

The purchase was part of a $29 million bond measure approved by voters in November 2012.

The measure also has funded projects like the Colorado Dam Safe Passage Project and the Simpson Pavilion.

With regard to the park, the funding was only to buy the site and not to build its features. Healy said they are anticipating doing that with system development charges, fees that are paid when new houses are built.

But those nearby houses won’t come until at least 2018.

“In the meantime, there will probably be some site cleanup and different things that happen, and signage will go up,” Healy said.

Not many people know about that park yet, but the rapid growth in Bend is hard to ignore.

“This area is up and coming. There’s a lot that’s going to be happening over here,” Healy said.