BEND, OR -- Thick smoke forced Bend Park and Recreation to cancel an event scheduled for Wednesday at the whitewater park. Julie Brown, with the district, says other programs will be impacted for several days. "For example, our youth sports programs are not going to be practicing the rest of this week. We felt confident, with the forecast, that we’re not anticipating significant improvement with the air quality, and so that’s a decision that we’ve already made. And, we’re going to continue monitoring it through the holiday weekend and we’ll be back in touch with coaches and parents early next week."

The Bend Paddle Trail Alliance event canceled Wednesday is just one of several casualties of the smoke. "It’s undetermined at this point if we’re going to be able to reschedule that. We certainly all hope that that is going to be possible before the season changes," says Brown. "In addition to that, the rental concessions for river tubes and paddle boards at Riverbend Park also closed. River recreation is impacted by the air quality, too." Other outdoor activities and programs were canceled, as well, including pickleball, tennis and softball. She tells KBND News, "We’re really following the guidance of so many of the health experts who are advising against rigorous outdoor activity for children, but also for people of all ages. Our air quality is just at a situation where we need to be spending more time indoors." Park and Rec plans to update its website with air quality impacts.