Bend Park and Rec weighs ways to balance riverside access, protect habitat District sharing initial plans with public for first time, seeking input BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- No matter the season, the Deschutes River gets plenty of use. Over time, that means the riverfront has taken a beating, and it has not been restored in more than 10 years. That’s why the Bend Park and Recreation District said it’s time for a change. "The vegetation has dwindled,” Sarah Bodo, the district’s park planner, told NewsChannel 21 Wednesday. “Or (it’s) been trampled, or degraded." Bend Park and Recreation is considering several new projects that would help protect areas along the Deschutes River.