Bend Whitewater Park reopens Saturday after modifications
The Bend Park and Recreation District will reopen the Bend Whitewater Park on Saturday following winter work modifications to improve performance in the whitewater and passageway channels.
The boom that was temporarily in place during construction activity was being removed Friday, officials said.
“The winter modifications were completed with only minimal disruptions due to the winter weather conditions,” said Brian Hudspeth, development manager for the park district. “The feedback about the wave features and the passageway channel is favorable and we look forward to the upcoming river recreation season.”
Winter work modifications in the whitewater channel included raising the pool elevations above the lower two features by raising the shoulders of the drops, and shallowing the pool below the upper most wave by installing a concrete “floor” below the wave to help stabilize the wave.
Work in the passageway channel focused on installing boulders to direct water through the center of the channel to decrease the chance of floaters dropping over the shoulders and flipping.
“The work completed this winter accomplished the goals we intended, including a refinement of some features in the passageway channel that were enjoyed by more than 100,000 river users last summer,” said Michelle Healy, the park district’s director of planning and park services. “Even with the work done, river users need to recognize the dynamic conditions in a natural river and should prepare for the experience.”
Funding for the winter work came from the project’s original funding allocation, remaining bond funds from the Farewell Bend Bridge project, and property tax revenue.
