Dear Bend Park and Recreation District board members,

Earlier this spring, Asians and Pacific Islanders of Central Oregon (APICO) were shocked to learn about racially restrictive covenants in Bend, Oregon’s Wiestoria subdivision that prevented people of Chinese and Japanese descent from owning or occupying properties for much of the city’s history. This was brought to light through the work of Riccardo Waites and We Black Radio’s​ Good Deeds Project. In particular, many of us were dismayed to see that Bend Park & Recreation District’s Orchard Park was one of the properties where this language is still part of the recorded deed on file with Deschutes County.

Our group formed during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Orchard Park was where we held our first community potluck. Since then, Orchard Park has been where we have continued to meet to share community and foods from the myriad of cultures that make up our group. Many of us have fond memories of these times and the park has a special place for us.

In addition to having these racially restrictive covenants removed from all publicly owned properties here in Bend, many in our group also do not want to see history erased, even when that history is marred by racism. Marking that history is an opportunity for the entire community to learn and make a conscious choice for a future that is free of racial prejudice.

Toward that end, we are asking BPRD for a commemorative installation at Orchard Park to educate the residents of Bend about this racist period in Bend’s history and inspire hope for change. We would like BPRD to plant two trees in Orchard Park from the approved Bend street tree list that represent Chinese and Japanese cultures and install a commemorative plaque sharing the history of restrictive covenants in partnership with the Deschutes Historical Museum. 

Thank you for your consideration,

Asians and Pacific Islanders of Central Oregon 

Co-signers: