This article was published on: 09/19/15 12:00 AM
After the Bend Whitewater Park’s opening Friday evening, the artificial waves have seen a steady flow of paddlers and onlookers.
“Overall we’ve been getting a good turnout,” Nathan Klinger, an assistant steward with Bend Park & Recreation District, said late Saturday afternoon.
Klinger was stationed at McKay Park, offering information and answering questions about the new whitewater park — the only one in the state. Most paddlers, with their stand-up paddleboards, kayaks or even river boards, climbed into the water there, at the shore of McKay Park.
Two Bend men, who had been kicking through the waves on their river boards, said it was definitely a good workout. Dozens of people stood on the footbridge that runs parallel to the Colorado Avenue bridge watching people cruise the waves.
So far, Klinger said, paddlers seemed to be staying safe.
“As far as I know, there haven’t been any incidents,” he said.