Bend Park & Recreation District has completed its ‘Community Needs Assessment Survey’

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Community Needs Assessment Survey is a recurring report, completed about every five years to measure the need for parks and recreation services and establish service priorities.

With a combination of mail-in and on-line surveys, the assessment yielded over 2,700 community responses.

Bend Park & Rec said, key findings from the survey weren’t all that surprising.

“It was overwhelming. What we heard from the community about the use of trails and open spaces, and that's consistent every time we've asked that question. Trails always come out as, the over and above, the most valued amenity in our community,” said Community Relations Manager, Julie Brown.

Other findings in the survey include: indoor exercise facilities were identified as the most needed recreation; courts and fields were least necessary.

The survey suggested there is notable approval for constructing a footbridge across the Deschutes River.

Over all, the survey revealed the top three community priorities:

Maintaining parks and facilities; conserving natural areas along the Deschutes River; and developing parks and trails in underserved areas. The 2023 Community Needs Assessment Survey results will be compared to the results of the 2017 survey to track the district’s progress in meeting community needs, and to evaluate shifts in interest and priorities for the remainder of the duration of the 10-year plan which began in 2018.