Bend Park &amp; Recreation DistrictBend Park &amp; Recreation District Bend Park & Recreation District The Bend Park & Recreation District is the agency which protects the parks, natural areas, recreational facilities, gardens, and trails of the city of Bend, Oregon. History. Bend formed a recreation department and hired its first director in April 1949. Before then, summer youth activities were organized jointly with the local school district. Sites were maintained by the public works department until 1964 when the maintenance and recreation programs combined to form a new Parks and Recreation Department. Sites. As of 2011, the agency operates 74 parks/open spaces and of trail, including: Bend Park & Recreation District