Esther Short Park Water Feature
✓ Last confirmed for the 2026 season · confirmed against the parks department
Where: W 8th & Columbia St, Vancouver, Washington
Season: Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting
Hours: 8:00am to dusk
Cost: free
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In the heart of downtown Vancouver, this waterfall cascades down a path of boulders that invite climbing and wading, with the farmers market and summer concerts sharing the historic square.
What's on site. OpenStreetMap maps parking at this location. No public toilets are mapped here — worth knowing before you commit to an afternoon.
When to go. Peak summer highs in Vancouver average 80°F — warm enough for a splash pad through most of the season without being punishing at midday.
If this one's closed or packed
Splash pads close for maintenance, run short seasons and fill up on hot weekends. There are 4 other pads within 5 miles and 39 within 15. These are the ones worth the drive — ranked by shade, toilets and cost first, then by how close they are: