Stone Creek Park, located just south of Reed Market Road in the Old Farm District, features paved and unpaved walking paths.

Southeast Bend does not have what you’d exactly call a surplus of parks — that would be Northwest Crossing — but it does have a few public parks. The 6.17-acre Stone Creek Park is one of them, a great place to stretch one’s legs on a lunch-hour walk or find a place to perch on a warm and sunny day. Set amid an area undergoing rampant development, the park boasts a playground, a small bike pump track, paved and unpaved paths, picnic shelter and a “skate spot” with a rail and fun box. Skate spots are smaller, but for neighborhood residents, more convenient, than a full-size skatepark. (Oregon-based Dreamland Skateparks is constructing another skate spot at Northpointe Park, a new park coming to Northeast Bend.)

Located directly west of Silver Rail Elementary, Stone Creek Park also has interesting lava rock formations typical of Central Oregon. Bend Park & Recreation District describes the basalt lava as forming “a mini butte-like natural area in the center of the park with sweeping views southeast to China Hat Butte and even the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.” Catch that view quickly, as new homes being constructed just south of the park could change what’s visible.

Stone Creek Park is located at 61531 SE Stone Creek Lane, Bend. Contact: bendparksandrec.org/park/stone-creek.