Esther Short Park and Playground image

Esther Short Park and Playground

Tourist attraction Park

One of the Most Reviewed Tourist attractions in Vancouver


Address

605 Esther St, Vancouver, WA 98660, United States

Website

www.cityofvancouver.us

Contact

+1 360-487-8311

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (3.5K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Sunday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: 5 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 5 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (29) great (11) people (9) Vancouver (9) playground (9) kids (7) nice (6) downtown (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Jessica v. 10 months ago on Google • 180 reviews
    Overall a very nice park - green grass, playgrounds. Quite a few homeless people that makes the park feel a bit unsafe.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 K. C. 1 year ago on Google
    4 days of Aloha festival held here. Fantastic event.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 KA L. 1 year ago on Google • 35 reviews
    Beautiful park. Serene but also bustling with people all around. There are people sitting, visiting with each other and kids playing. Visitors staying at the Hilton across the street enjoying the park as well. Plenty of shade if you want to feel the breeze and sun if you wanna feel the rays. On weekends in the summer, you can attend the farmers market, purchase all sorts of goodies and then enjoy lunch at the park.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cynthia S. 3 months ago on Google • 140 reviews New
    This 5-acre park is the oldest public square in the state of Washington, and is located right in the heart of downtown Vancouver. You can pretty much walk anywhere downtown from here. The Vancouver waterfront is just a short walk away (just cross the street) along with Fort Vancouver, Pearson Air Field and Museum, the Discovery Loop, the Vancouver Land Bridge, restaurants and shopping galore; the entertainment is endless. I found the most interesting part about this park to be the clock tower, but you will also find the Slocum House, a beautiful gazebo, picnic shelter/stage, a Victorian rose garden (I will come back in Spring to see this in bloom, because I know it will be just stunning), a well maintained playground, seasonal water features, and a walking path around the park which includes several pieces of art among mature trees here as well, as you will see from my photos/videos. It is lined with benches, so you can sit and people watch, which is always fun to do when downtown in any big city. Also, many different events are held here, such as the Farmers Market (mid-March through October) and a variety of summer festivals. I definitely recommend checking this park out. With so much to do, seeing it is smack dab in the middle of everything, you can't go wrong.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elija B. 1 year ago on Google • 254 reviews
    The new playground is a great success! The kids were all over it like ants on an anthill today! It was amazing to watch! I didn’t see any tears, everyone was having a great time! Pictures to come!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Whitney W. 2 years ago on Google
    We went to splash pad side of the park. It was so nice and clean. Downside is that there are a few spots on the top of the splash pad that have huge ankle roll spots. I fell victim to one of the spots. Big enough for the littles playing to catch their feet and fall face forward. While I was there 2 moms stuffed the holes with their towels to prevent anyone from getting hurt. Beautiful park all around. Wonderful shaded spots.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 James T. 5 years ago on Google
    Beautiful park, located in downtown Vancouver. Whenever I bring my son here, he has a good time. There always seems to be something going on. I wish that the playground had more equipment, due to the massive amount of children that come to play there. Maybe some more swings sets would be a good idea. All in all, it is a pretty impressive park. I would definitely recommend this park to my family and friends.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 P 4 months ago on Google • 280 reviews
    It's a nice park downtown. If it were not overrun with people sleeping on the benches and in the gazebos, it looks good enough. Not that there's much the city can do about that. There are often markets nearby and loads of great restaurants so it's worth the visit. Just the park itself is not very whelming.

  • 4/5 Chris M. 10 months ago on Google • 62 reviews
    My daughter loves this park. There are a ton of things for her to climb on and play with, and there are plenty of places for tired parents to sit lol. I would give it 5 stars, but it would have been nice if they had added an awning over the slide and added other elements to provide shade. The slide, swings, merry-go-round, and turf can get extremely hot.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Simeon M. 11 months ago on Google
    The new Park is great. Missing the bathrooms that used to be here though. Porta potty’s aren’t the same as using a real toilet, especially for kids.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Cynthia E. 1 year ago on Google
    Downtown Vancouver park that hosts events and festivals. It has restrooms, a rose garden, a clocktower, a fountain, and multiple paths with benches, trees, and grassy areas. Adjacent to the weekend farmers market.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tin N. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice park for relaxing when the Sun is out. Clean and busy with the Farmers Market.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sharon W. 1 year ago on Google • 87 reviews
    The new play ground (Spring 2023) is a sight to see. Beautiful, modern and accessible by young, old, able bodied and handicapped. A great improvement from the old playground. Nice job Vancouver!

  • 5/5 Sabrina L. 9 months ago on Google • 83 reviews
    Attended the 2023, 4 Days of Aloha. Loved the music, dancers, vendors, and food. But the food lines were very long (30 min plus) in 90-degree weather directly in the sun. And it was also hard to find a place to eat due to the crowds. I'd suggest for next year, overhead tents in the food court area for the lines, and have more picnic benches where people can eat.

  • 5/5 Kay L. K. 7 months ago on Google • 61 reviews
    Nice new park. My 8 years old son loves the fake grass turf. Much cleaner. Giant seesaw, slides, swings, really cool giant zylophone sounds awesome. A large farmers market right next it. Fresh veggies, fruit, farm fresh eggs. Food stands with gyros, snowcones, and others hot food. Lots of dogs all well behaved and controlled. Nice Oct. day.

  • 5/5 Handsome K. 9 months ago on Google • 41 reviews
    The farmers market is here along with a playground for the children. There is a very nice rose garden, benches to sit and public restrooms. I really like the downtown Vancouver vibe and this is a great place to catch it...

  • 3/5 Stephanie V. 5 years ago on Google
    The park itself is great but unfortunately there were a handful of homeless people all around the entire park. We walked around the entire park and multiple homeless people made an effort to talk to my children which is uneasy feeling. There were plenty of kids and parents playing and being happy which I was able to enjoy!

  • 5/5 Michael C. 6 years ago on Google
    Pretty cool place it has it all entertainment, markets,playground, little waterfall play area for the kids also countless food stands with almost every cusine. This park is full of historic land marks and statues. A good place to meet people, shop, have fun, and hang out.

  • 5/5 Colten T. 4 years ago on Google
    5 stars for the Farmers Market! It’s grown over the years and is great as far as the variety of vendors goes. The park itself is great too with a playground on the west side and a water feature on the east side. The homeless population can be a bit much during mid-day but they seem to be friendly and I’ve never had issues when I was at the park. It’s a great park surrounded by good food options.

  • 3/5 Cecilia K. 1 year ago on Google
    It's okay for what it offers. I'm sure the new construction will make it so much nicer. The water feature was what I went for. There is shade in the top half where parents with babies/toddlers are and get grouchy if older kids are splashing around. It's not a safe place to leave kids unattended.

  • 3/5 Samantha T. 1 year ago on Google
    Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful park, and huge staple of growing up for me, but it could use some improvement. There's a lot of homeless folks around, which can't quite be controlled. I'm hoping they rebuild the playground that was burned down. The farmers market every weekend is fantastic

  • 5/5 Ruby S. 1 year ago on Google
    Went to the 1st annual tacos in the Park. Had a fantastic time!! Can't wait for next year.

  • 5/5 Eric H. 10 months ago on Google
    Saturday and Sunday Market. Great vendors, great food, we always buy something. New playground in park is wonderful.

  • 5/5 Peg C. 10 months ago on Google
    It's new and improved and extra special fun for the kiddos. Make time during the Farmer's Market to enjoy this wonderland. BTW There's a fabulous seesaw! Easy walk to the Point. Everyone gets to enjoy Vancouver.


Call +1 360-487-8311 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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