Columbia Park and Gilchrist Bridge will close starting Monday, Oct. 19

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Columbia Park and the Gilchrist Bridge in Bend will close to public use starting Monday, Oct. 19, at 8 a.m. for riverbank restoration and bridge replacement. The closures are expected to remain in place through early summer 2027.

Years of heavy public use led to deterioration along the Columbia Park riverbank access point, prompting fencing to protect the area. The upcoming project will restore a section of the riverbank, build an accessible river access point and install pathways, plazas and site furnishings. In March 2026, the Bend Parks and Recreation District Board of Directors and the Bend City Council added the replacement of the Gilchrist Bridge to the project scope.

The park's playground, lawn areas and pathways will close during construction while work focuses on the riverbank. Site fencing and contractor equipment staging may begin before the full closure. Recommended detours across the river include Bend Whitewater Park or Galveston Avenue.

Recreational use of the Deschutes River through the project area will also face temporary closures during specific construction activities, including the removal of the existing bridge. Advance notice of river closures will be posted on information boards near the project site, emailed to stakeholders and shared through media and social media.

Ian Isaacson serves as the park district's landscape architect and project manager. “This project represents a coordinated effort between the district and the City of Bend to improve river access, ecological conditions and trail connectivity in a partnership that benefits the community,” Isaacson said. He also asked for public cooperation during the closure: “We appreciate the community's patience and cooperation as construction gets underway. The bridge, park and river are important community resources and the project will enhance the experiences.”

Funding for the Columbia Park construction includes grant money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and a donation from the Joseph & Elizabeth Hoffart Charitable Foundation. Design work was funded by the Oregon State Marine Board Waterway Access Grant Program, which uses permit fees from nonmotorized boats 10 feet and longer. The City of Bend is funding the Gilchrist Bridge replacement, with design support from a grant provided by the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Contractor equipment staging and fencing are scheduled to begin ahead of the full Oct. 19 closure. Following the completion of the project in early summer 2027, ownership and maintenance of the Gilchrist Bridge will formally transfer from the city to the Bend Parks and Recreation District.