Columbia Park (Bend)




Description from Bend Parks and Recreation Website:

"The park is located along the western edge of the Deschutes River. The park consists of two distinct shelves that step down to the river and a pedestrian bridge. The pedestrian bridge connects to the river trail that runs north and south along the eastern edge of the river. A chain link fence and a steep drop prohibit direct river access."

The long slide has been removed and has been replaced by a tunnel slide.  It's fun.

There are a couple of reasons for the replacement (Thanks to Bend Parks employee John for the explanation):  Safety/Building Code adherence and noise (not the bumpiness of the old slide).  An open slide needs a playground surface underneath.  The old astroturf met that requirement, but created its own hazards with the steep slope.  The area under the new slide will be "natural" and fenced off.  The other problem with the old slide was noise affecting residents across the river.  I'm not sure how the new slide will help with that issue.

I'm sad to see the old slide go, but the new one certainly has potential.  For a great hillside slide, visit this one  next time you're in Newport, OR.



My Comments:

It seems that they forgot to mention one of Bend's best playgrounds in the description.  The centerpiece is a pirate ship themed play structure complete with cannons, a gangplank, and a sea serpent slide.  The ship also includes several hands-on activities that are much more engaging than the tic-tac-toe games you see at some other playgrounds.

There is also a long slide that descends to the lower shelf of the park.  You'll want to keep a close watch on the littlest kids because the slide also includes a rather long concrete staircase.

There is a fence between the playground and the river, and there are some barrier fences near the playground, but it can be hard to keep an eye on multiple children.

A pedestrian bridge crosses the Deschutes River a short distance from the playground.






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