A kayaker plays on one of the more advanced waves in Bend's new whitewater park.
Amanda Peacher / OPB
Oregon's first whitewater park opened Friday in Bend.
A short section of the Deschutes River now splits into three channels: there's a natural wildlife area, an easy channel for floaters on tubes or inflatable air mattresses, and then the whitewater channel with several wave features.
Kayaker Eric Munroe traveled from his home in the Columbia River Gorge to celebrate opening day at the park.
"There are some good features. People playing around having fun," Munroe said. He pointed to an easy section of the park. "Beginner wave section down here; it's a little more advanced up top. It's a feature that Bend's going to benefit big from."
The park was constructed so that wave technicians can adjust the waves from a tablet computer. The $9.7 million project was made possible through a 2012 voter-approved bond.