A great place to play

Most parks have something to offer families. Some offer shade for respite from the heat, while others have giant slides to whiz down or rock climbing walls to scale.

Other factors like convenient location, ample parking, restrooms and distance from traffic also play a role in which parks families choose. Most families seek out their closest neighborhood park, and the facilities are designed with that in mind, often intended to accommodate those arriving by foot or bike.

In general, parents say they want a convenient park where they feel their children are safe. Parks are great places to keep kids entertained.

Victoria Gawlowski takes her two children, ages 5 and 3, to local playgrounds several times a week. They live on the west side of Bend, but explore parks all over the city.

Weve got to get out of the house and do something for free.

Jessica Harzan likes Al Moody Park because of its play area just for toddlers, which is perfect for her 18-month-old daughter. The train structure is very low to the ground and has a little slide and interactive features.

Ive never seen anything like that.

Stephanie Yun, the mother of two kids ages 5 and 2, likes playgrounds to offer toys where kids can use their imaginations, like Harmon Park, which has a big boat the kids can play on. Shade is another big factor.

It determines where we go and when, Yun said.

Neighbors often have input in the design of a new park, according to Norm Ziesmer, development manager for Bend Metro Park and Recreation District. Some parks have themes. For instance, Al Moody has a treehouse look, and Farewell Bend Park has a lumber theme. Ziesmer says most parks include play equipment designed for children ages 2-5 as well as children ages 6-11. If theres an elementary school nearby with a playground, designers may try to offer something different or focus more on preschool equipment.

This guide to local playgrounds is intended to help families explore beyond the park next door. We did not include descriptions of parks that could not accommodate families traveling to a park. For instance, Wildflower Park in southwest Bend is fairly new and offers an inventive, fun collection of play structures, but the park offers virtually no parking, making it extremely tough for anyone but neighbors to utilize.

Other parks deserving a mention include Compass Park in North West Crossing. While this park is a community gathering place, the recent removal of three large pieces of spinning play equipment (due to late night partying and noise) makes the park less of an attraction for kids. Stover Park in northeast Bend may offer the best shade of any park in Bend and, while small, may be worth the trip on a particularly hot day. Jaycee Park and Al Moody Park contain the newest playground equipment of all the parks, so those may be worth a visit just to check out the newest options.

Featured Bend playgrounds

Big Sky Park

Location: 21690 N.E. Neff Road

Size: 97.2 acres (includes numerous sports fields)

Highlights for kids: While primarily a sports park with baseball and soccer fields and a BMX track, this large park on Bends east side also features a large, fun new playground for kids complete with tons of components including slides and swings .

Highlights for parents: The playground is set far from the road and during the week can be incredibly quiet, which can be a safety factor for parents of younger children. The park also offers a picnic area with a shelter close to the playground and an off-leash dog park.

Drawbacks: This out-of-the-way playground doesnt attract many families when the ball parks are empty, which means kids wanting playmates may be out of luck.

Restrooms: Flush facility

Parking: Parking lot

Comments: Mom Victoria Gawlowski lives on the west side of Bend, but likes taking her two children to Big Sky because theres hardly anyone ever here. Her daughter Sierra, 5, said, We have tons of parks, thats my favorite, but this ones the best because of the bar, referring to a gymnastic style bar.

Blakely Park

Location: Southwest Brookswood Boulevard and Southwest McClellan Road

Size: 3.37 acres

Highlights for kids: This big play structure is incredibly popular with kids. It includes tall and short slides, ramps, a big grassy area and half basketball court.

Highlights for parents: The play area is completely fenced with just one opening, so parents dont have to worry about kids leaving the play area. The location is convenient for many families and offers a recently expanded parking area.

Drawbacks: There is basically no shade, making this park pretty unbearable in really hot weather.

Restrooms: Permanent flush facility

Parking: Parking lot

Comment: It has the fence so theres only one spot for kids to get in and out, said mom Kiley Warren. The bad thing is theres no shade. Its great when its not too hot.

Farewell Bend Park

Location: Southwest Reed Market Road, on the

east bank of the Deschutes River

Size: 22 acres

Highlights for kids: This park has one of the most unusual play areas in Bend. The whole playground has a lumber theme that includes a buzz saw, logs and a water wheel. There is also a separate area filled with different size rocks that kids can scale. Plus, the park sits along the Deschutes River and offers the chance for little ones to wade into the cool water. A deck and walkway also offer kids a chance to spy at the river up close (and the tight railing should keep them from falling in).

Highlights for parents: The view is relaxing, and the temperature by the river is usually a bit cooler. There is a nice picnic shelter near the playground.

Drawbacks: The play area is not fenced and is near a river and a busy road, which can be a concern for some parents.

Restrooms: Permanent flush facilities

Parking: Lots of on-street parking

Harmon Park

Location: 1100 N.W. Harmon Blvd.

Size: 3.74 acres

Highlights for kids: Most kids in Bend know this playground as the boat park, and for good reason. Kids love the green and white boat that is the focal point of the park. In addition , the park also features a dinosaur theme with a big dino kids can climb through and a bouncy dinosaur to sit on.

Highlights for parents: The park is mostly fenced and offers pretty views of Mirror Pond. Families may also enjoy a quick walk over a wooden footbridge to Drake Park.

Drawbacks: Shade is minimal.

Restrooms: Permanent flush facilities

Parking: On-street parking

Comments: We play like were pirates trying to catch little mermaids, said Kaylyn Mitchell, 10, about playing on the boat.

Juniper Park

Location: 800 N.E. Sixth St.

Size: 22.31 acres

Highlights for kids: This playground is not as new as some of the playgrounds in Bend, but it does have a favorite feature: the zip line. The play structure is fairly large and includes slides, swings and bouncing horses. The park includes tons of open green space and horseshoe pits.

Highlights for parents: The area has a lot of nice shade on all sides of the park and several picnic tables.

Drawbacks: The slides are metal, so they can get really hot in the summer sun. Kids can also see into the water park and water slide area next door, so little ones may be disappointed if parents arent planning a trip to the pool.

Restrooms: Permanent flush facility

Parking: Parking lot

Comments: I like doing the monkey bars and the zip line, said Lillian Judd, 7.

Larkspur Park

Location: 1700 S.E. Reed Market Road

Size: 14.46 acres

Highlights for kids: This park has the biggest, best selection of equipment of all of the parks in Bend. It has three separate play areas that include a huge diversity. One of the structures was designed in particular for children with special needs. The park includes a play area for older kids as well as a play area for little ones. It has a dinosaur and plane bouncy toys, a log roll, climbing walls and several slides and swings. And because the playground is so big, kids can typically find plenty of playmates.

Highlights for parents: A large pergola provides some partial shade for parents. With so much stuff for kids to do, parents can count on kids staying entertained for quite awhile.

Drawbacks: The playground doesnt have any shade and, while fenced, the play area is close to a very busy street (Reed Market Road).

Restrooms: Permanent flush facilities

Parking: Large lot

Comments: Theres lots of room to just go and explore, said dad Brent Barnett.

Orchard Park

Location: 2001 N.E. Sixth St.

Size: 3.68 acres

Highlights for kids: This is one of the newest parks in Bend, with a fun, playful design that includes a giant dinosaur that children can climb through, and a bouncing, rocking dino kids can ride. The playground has kind of a tree house feel in the way it is designed. The park also includes a fun twirling device, half basketball court, climbing rocks and sets for kids to pretend they are driving or onstage.

Highlights for parents: The playground is set back from the street which has relatively low traffic , plus the lower play area is completely fenced. The park includes a small shelter with a picnic table and a partial shade from nearby trees.

Drawbacks: The grass at the park has yet to come in, leaving limited room. Shade is limited.

Restrooms: Portable

Parking: Ample street parking

Quail Park

Location: 2755 N.W. Regency St.

Size: 4 acres

Highlights for kids: The playground is divided into two sections, for older kids and little ones, that provide plenty of fun options . There is a big climbing wall, a mini log roll, a bouncy blue plane that seats two , as well as the traditional slides and swings.

Highlights for parents: There is virtually no traffic on this very quiet road. The park also offers a shelter with picnic tables near the playgrounds, as well as mountain views and a few easy sawdust-covered trails that meander into the nearby woods.

Drawbacks: Other than the shelter, there isnt much shade.

Restrooms: Portable

Parking: Ample street parking

Comments: I love it. Its so open you can see where your kids are at all times, said mom Catherine Scanland.

Selected Redmond playgrounds

Selected Redmond playgrounds

Diamond Bar Ranch Park

Location: 575 N.E. Quince Ave.

Description: This park is located in a newer Redmond neighborhood and is just a year old. The playground features a structure for younger children as well as a larger play structure for older kids. The playground offers on-street parking and doesnt have any benches for seating, although some are planned and should be ready soon. The park has permanent flush restroom facilities and is ADA accessible.

Quince Park

Location: Northwest Quince Avenue

and Northwest 11th Street

Description: This is a very popular park that is about seven years old. It features a separate parking lot and the play area has a lot of nice shade. The park includes permanent flush restroom facilities and more than 2,200 feet of pathways.

Sam Johnson Park

Location: Southwest 15th Street and

Southwest Evergreen Avenue

Description: This is a very popular park in the middle of Redmond. The playground equipment is older and will probably be replaced in the coming years. The park includes numerous picnic tables, shade and plenty of room to roam in the 6.88-acre park. The park includes permanent flush restroom facilities and a parking lot.

West Canyon Rim Park

Location: 1018 N.W. Rimrock Drive

Description: This park has become a very popular spot since it was developed about three years ago. The play equipment is new, and the park offers access to the Dry Canyon Rim trail system. The park, which has on-street parking, offers plenty of shade and permanent flush restroom facilities.

Other Central Oregon playgrounds

La Pine

Finley Butte Park or La Pine Community Park

Location: Walling Lane and Finley Butte Road, La Pine

Description: The playground is about two years old and includes a large play area, climbing walls, slides, swinging steps, swings and more. The park is adjacent to a baseball field and the entire park offers plenty of shade from the trees surrounding the area. The bathrooms are closed for lack of maintenance.

Madras

Sahalee Park

Location: Between B and C streets on Seventh Street.

Description: This park is used for major community events and includes a large playground with equipment that is less than two years old. The playground includes a fun, interactive fire truck feature, slides and built-in shade. The park also includes four gazebos, public restrooms and a basketball court.

Of note: The playground at Westside Elementary School, 410 S.W. Fourth St., will remain open and be maintained by city staff, despite the closing of that school.

Prineville

Ochoco Creek Park

Location: 450 N.E. Elm St.

Description: One look at this park in the middle of Prineville and youll understand why its so popular. The very large park is filled with tall trees, lush grass and a bubbling natural creek. It also has a large wooden playground that is very popular with kids. The playground was constructed by community members through a kit more than 10 years ago. The park includes two covered picnic areas fairly close to the playground, restrooms and tons of shade. On a hot day, this is a perfect spot for youngsters to dip their feet into the cool creek.

Of note: The finishing touches are being put on Yellow Pine Park in the North Ridge Division of Prineville, which includes a brand new playground for kids. Pioneer Park, 450 N.E. Third St., is also getting a new playground for young children and a small climbing wall for older kids. Those upgrades are expected to be completed this week.

Sisters

Village Green Park

Location: East Washington Avenue

between Elm and Fir streets

Description: This lovely park has a covered gazebo, covered barbecue area with tables and playground equipment. The playground includes a double slide, a swinging walkway, a corkscrew slide and monkey bars, all of which are located over a woodchip-filled base. The treed area offers plenty of shade and a large grass area for kids to roam and play. The park has permanent flush restroom facilities.

Sunriver

Fort Rock Park

Location: Shamrock Lane and East Cascade Road

Description: Fort Rock Park provides facilities for softball, volleyball, horseshoes and includes a large, grassy field for all sorts of activities. The large playground includes a variety of fun equipment. The park includes a shelter for picnic and barbecues.

Find more parks

Find information about all of the playgrounds in the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District at www.bendparksandrec.org.