BEND, OR -- Bend Park and Recreation is making a big push this summer to discourage people from bridge jumping. "It’s very common," says the district's Julie Brown, "As you go around the community you’ll see people of all ages actually trying to jump off of the bridges into the water."

Brown tells KBND News, "It’s not permitted in parks or on the river. But you see an awful lot of the behavior taking place. And that is when you can get yourself or others into additionally dangerous situations." She says much of the danger comes from the Deschutes River’s history as part of local logging operations, "We’ve got metal and pieces of equipment and even the lava rocks are constantly shifting. So, a danger that was there right now may not have been there yesterday."

Bend Parks and Rec is working to get the word out early in the season. The district hosts a summer safety event Wednesday, in partnership with Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol and Bend Police. "We’re really wanting to encourage people to refrain from bridge jumping, in particular," says Brown, "And then, we always are trying to change some behavior around alcohol use at the river, and in parks." That public event is June 5 at Riverbend Park. "We’re hoping to be able to do some education efforts and set a positive tone early in the summer, so we can do everything we can to keep everybody safe," says Brown. 

Click HERE to learn more about park rules.