Published 9:00 am Wednesday, May 13, 2026 With winter snow as a no-show this year, it is abundantly clear that Mother Nature is in charge. There are drought conditions and requests for everyone to conserve water and be vigilant about dry conditions in Central Oregon. At Bend Park & Recreation District, there has been a big effort to conserve water and reduce the amount of irrigation needed in our 86 parks, and it feels like a good time to share success while the City of Bend is celebrating its 100 Years of Water Service . Out of more than 3,000 acres of property owned and managed by BPRD, only 195 acres are irrigated turf and landscape. If you compared that to a household yard, that would be a very small sliver to get the attention of a sprinkler. And as neighborhoods increase density, these park spaces are even more important as a de facto backyard for the community.…