Local companies step up to landscape Bend roundabouts

Two prominent Bend companies are teaming up to help the City keep its signature roundabouts looking beautiful.

Brooks Resources Corporation and William Smith Properties, Inc. will donate their resources to landscape Bend’s 20 roundabouts that include public art. The Bend Foundation, established by Brooks-Scanlon, Brooks Resources and their shareholders, and Art in Public Places will also participate in funding the project. The City has cut back on landscaping expenses over the past several years due to budget reductions and has relied on a volunteer program to do the work.

“On behalf of the City, I want to thank Brooks Resources and William Smith Properties for their civic pride and dedication to the quality of life in Bend,” said City Manager Eric King. “This type of public/private partnership shows the tremendous community spirit that exists in this city.”

After landscaping work is completed, the two companies will create recommended maintenance requirements for the roundabouts that volunteers will be able to follow in the future.

Brooks Resources Corporation has created some of Central Oregon’s most recognizable real estate communities, including NorthWest Crossing, a joint venture with Tennant Developments, North Rim, RiverWild, Awbrey Butte, Awbrey Glen, and Mount Bachelor Village Resort.

William Smith Properties developed the Old Mill District and has provided support to more than 100 local and regional non-profit organizations since 2000.

Bend Public Transit Survey

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization has just kicked off a Public Transit Plan for the city of Bend and would like to obtain input from you.

Complete a survey and be entered to win one of two $50 gift cards, gift certificates generously donated by the Old Mill District and the Downtown Bend Business Association, or bus passes.

Winners will be selected from surveys completed by March 9, 2012.

Take the survey:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BendTransitSurvey

If you have questions about the survey, or for more information about the project, please review this project website or email tdeke@ci.bend.or.us.  Thank you for your interest in shaping the future of public transit in Bend.

Note: This survey is intended for people who reside, work, OR attend school/college in Bend.

For the purposes of this survey, “Bend” refers to the city of Bend and nearby unincorporated areas such as Deschutes River Woods.

The questionnaire should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

All responses are confidential and will only be reported in aggregate. Submission of the completed questionnaire will be interpreted as your informed consent to participate and that you affirm that you are at least 16 years of age.

Bend Transportation & Transit Planning

The Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program (TGM) provides local governments with funding for planning projects that lead to more livable, economically vital, transportation-efficient, sustainable, pedestrian-friendly communities.  The grant awarded to the Bend MPO will be used to update the long-range transit plans for the City of Bend Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the MPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan.