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Esther Short Park

4.4 (52 reviews)

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Rose in bloom
Kim G.

A gem in downtown Vancouver, Esther Short Park has walking paths, lots of benches to sit and relax, gazebos and shady spots for picnics, lots of art to enjoy, water features, a babbling creek, a small playground, an open grass area and public bathrooms making it a popular spot for locals and tourists. The grounds are well maintained and I enjoy the various plants and flowers that change throughout the seasons. From March-October the Vancouver Farmers Market resides in the edge of the park and it is a worthy destination! With lots of food vendors, local produce and fruit, baked goods, plants & fresh flowers, and many craft vendors selling their creative products, it is a lovely and lively market! Unlike most markets, the Vancouver Farmers Market is open on both Saturday & Sunday and until 3pm which I love! This gives me time to enjoy other parts of Vancouver and a trip to the market. Esther Short Park is also the site for many seasonal events like the Vancouver Jazz and Wine Festival, Summer Concert Series (free), Friday Movies in the Park (Free), Sunday Sounds Concerts (free), Juneteenth Celebration, Craft Beer & Wine Festival, Vancouver Pride, Recycled Arts Festival, the Christmas Tree Lighting and so much more! The park is an old fashioned city square, the central hub and meeting spot for most Vancouver happenings. Visit the events page on their website for specific events and dates. Parking is on the street for a fee. There are a few areas of free parking but they are hard to find. Events do get crowded so get there early.

Jason V.

Esther Short Park wasn't always this nice. I remember, growing up, it was a hotbed of drug use and shady activity, before the revival of downtown kicked off. Fortunately, like its namesake, it is a plucky survivor with a history of overcoming adversity. Things are very different now. These days, Esther Short Park is a fabulously maintained green space with a small rose garden, multiple fountains, a cobbled plaza popular with skaters, bell tower, a playground (currently being rebuilt after a vandal set fire to it, for some dumb reason), a bandstand, and public restrooms. The adjacent Vancouver Farmer's Market (every weekend, from March to October) is often lumped into the park's list of features, followed on its heels by the Fall Market, which runs through December. Throughout the year, myriad events are hosted here, some free and open to all ages, others ticketed and more exclusive: the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival, 4 Days of Aloha, Dia De Muertos, movies in the park every Friday night in the summer, Craft Beer & Wine Fest, and several others. Event when events are not taking place, the park is a true gem downtown, perfect for just lazing away the day, having a picnic, kicking a ball, tossing a frisbee, playing in the fountain, or taking the dogs for a walk. In a way, the revival of Esther Short Park was the inception for the greater transformation of the Vancouver Waterfront, which has been incredible to watch manifest these last few years. To see a part of the town that was basically left to the wolves for decades become the glittering showpiece of the city, is truly remarkable. Esther would be proud.

Frances L.

Beautiful park downtown, we love the all inclusive playground. It has everything from a water play fountain to a gazebo. The first public park in the Pacific Northwest it is truly a gem. We stop everytime we can. Can't wait for the construction to finish and see the renovated results.

Ester Short
Tamara C.

Ester Short Park is named after a hardy pioneer woman who traveled the long journey west with her husband Amos Short from Pennsylvania, gradually, they made stops in Michigan and Illinois before before finally joining a wagon train west to the Oregon territory in 1845 with their children to settle near the Fort Vancouver. But they didn't receive a warm welcome. The Hudson Bay Trading Company tried to claim title to the Shorts' land and when Amos Short defended himself, his family and his land he went on trial. Meanwhile another branch of the Hudson Bay trading Company, a French Canadian visited Ester with hopes to convince her to leave Oregon. He found his face on the receiving end of a solid slap. Both Mr. and Mrs. Short became folk heroes. Pushing out the Hudson Bay Trading Company and the French Canadians. The Shorts were responsible for opening the city's first hotel, a restaurant, a church and a a city square. The largest public park in Washington state and named after her. These days during the summer you will find Ester Short park is a pretty popular place to visit. Every weekend vendors selling their wares from beautiful jewelry, produce and every other type of art imaginable is sold at Ester Short part. I think she would be pleased. 2021 - Review # 43

Esther short park around the holidays
Eddie O.

Esther short park with Christmas lights on the tree to ring in the holiday spirit. Great park to take a stroll & get some fresh air

Walking through the park on a beautiful winter day!
Tina L.

I love Esther short park! It's a staple to downtown Vancouver. The park is huge with lots of different areas to hangout. This is a great park and they host the Saturday market as well.

A stroll in the park with the family. Awesome sunny day in June 2023.
Michael G.

A awesome day for a stroll through the park today with the family. Just a few homeless in the park today.

Viviann L.

Nice chill park with a small garden. Nothing too special and pretty small. There's a playground but not much grass area for dogs or picnic. Quite a few homeless as well but it's safe. Street parkings are mostly paid ones but some free street parkings within walking distance

Where the playground used to be.

The playground burned down. Otherwise it's a nice small shaded spot for a picnic or a stroll

clock tower
Jenny C.

10 years ago if someone would have suggested hanging out at Esther Short Park I would have responded with "Not no, but hell no." Anyone who has been around Vancouver long enough to remember the old Lucky Brewery knows that this park has made a 180 degree turn from creepy downtown wasteland to iconic urban hub for Clark County. Funded and designed by local professionals, the park has become a place for great people watching and hanging out with friends and family. During the summer the city puts on weekly concerts during the lunch hour and movies and larger concerts on weekends. Big events such as the Wine and Jazz Festival happens in August and Microblues in June. ESP is surrounded by the majority of the downtown's recent construction projects, resulting in an increase in activity. Parking in the area is metered, and is difficult to find during summer middays and weekends when the farmer's market (located on the park's west edge) is in season. Yet the crowds of people enjoying the well maintained grounds makes the park a neat place to be.

Z. H.

A nice little park where you can relax and have a nice walk. It is located right in downtown Vancouver and surrounded by a bunch of businesses. You are able to experience the park and have a bite at some of the restaurants near by. There is a playground and some water decor. It is a simple park, yet elegant and beautiful. Very green with flowers and visual appeal. There are many events that happen here from art festivals and the Saturday market. Also come here for the Christmas tree lighting. This is definitely a gem in Vancouver and a place where you can enjoy yourself.

The Bell Tower...lovely!
Karen P.

This is my new favorite park, period. I love Claremont's Memorial, I love Pomona's Memorial, too - but Esther Short? OH! SO nice! Even if it was just the water fountain play area made JUST for kids to splash and enjoy....even if it was just the big, beautiful trees...even if it was just the lovely playground area...or the clock tower...of the Farmer's market that is THERE ALL WEEKEND...but it's all of those things, all of them together. Gosh....there is also a huge band-stage/gazebo-y type thing there. There is space for many to be able to enjoy all at the same time. The wonderful hotel I stayed at (Hilton Vancouver!) is right across the street, there are surrounding eateries that I also love. I mean there is nothing not to like about this place. I can't wait to go again. May, I'll be there...I'll see my kids play and I'll enjoy the people watching (punks, under a tree with a dog - like my young adulthood! Memories!), watch my kids run around in a Nerf Gun War and splash and wade in the gorgeous water art sculpture (it's more than a fountain for kids to play there - it's a great space). Perhaps I'm a PNW person, huh? ;) So...if you are there? Go. Enjoy the people, the dogs, the trees, the weather, the scents of the market, the breeze, the joy of the place. It's lovely and peaceful, and who doesn't need that?

Christmas tree in Esther short park.

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18 years ago

This park is Vancouver's living room. Awesome fountain, glockenspiel, flowers, bandstand, playground, rose garden, farmer's market.

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Review Highlights - Esther Short Park

Kid areas are divided into the playground on west side and the water feature for warm play in the summer on the east.

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I love coming to Forest Park when visiting Portland! There are many trails to choose from, it's…read morewell maintained, and there's a lot of signage, making it fairly easy to navigate around. I've come here a handful of times and have done some easy walks, as well as the more strenuous trek all the way up to Pittock Mansion. The observation deck is always a favorite stop too since it's such a pretty area. The whole park is very lush and seems to stay that way no matter the time of year. Not sure if all of the trails are dog friendly, but we have brought a dog on some and see lots of them throughout the park.

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First of all the park is huge and the activities available for the kids are wonderful. Multiple…read moreswings, rotating ball, and great big climbing structure with slides and rock climbing wall. There is a fountain for the summer time and outdoor picnicking and grilling. Nice little trail to walk around. Across the street is 3 futbol piches and more park. The community center features indoor courts for basketball, badminton, track, and a gym. Staff is sorry nice and welcoming and the place is clean and inviting.

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Hidden Creek Park West - Activity structure

Activity structure

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Esther Short Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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