Vancouver Waterfront Park

Parks and trails remain open with COVID-19 precautions in place. Park users should continue to practice physical distancing at all times. See our Parks and Trails Response Page for current information.

The 7.3-acre Vancouver Waterfront Park is part of a 35-acre, high density, mixed use urban development, The Waterfront Vancouver.

This community park incorporates public open spaces with the Columbia River edge. The Columbia River Renaissance Trail connects Vancouver Waterfront Park to Wintler Park, over 5 miles away. The iconic cable-stayed Grant Street Pier connects the park's eastern and western halves.

Need to report a maintenance issue? Email the Parks and Recreation Department. If the issue is more urgent (water line break, downed tree, etc.) call 360-487-8310.

Vancouver Waterfront Park lies to the west of I-5, south of downtown Vancouver, Washington. It is a separate park from the Fort Vancouver Waterfront, which is just east of I-5 and adjoining Joe's Crab Shack and Who Song and Larry's restaurants. The Fort Vancouver Waterfront is managed by the National Park Service as part of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and not the City of Vancouver. The address for the Fort Vancouver Waterfront is 115 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661.

+ Park History

In 1855, Esther Short donated Esther Short Park and a parcel of waterfront property to the City of Vancouver. The Michigan Mill was built here in 1889. Going through different iterations, the waterfront remained a mill site through 2006, when the Boise Cascade paper mill closed. Columbia Waterfront, LLC purchased the property in 2008, intending to create a mixed use development including office space, retail, restaurants and services. Columbia Waterfront,LLC and Gramor Development worked closely with the City and Port of Vancouver to create a master plan, setting aside 7-acres for a new community park. After a couple years of active construction, Vancouver Waterfront Park opened in fall 2018.

Facilities

Benches
Open lawn areas
Playground
Restrooms
Walking paths
Water feature/fountain

+ The Columbia River Water Feature

The Columbia River Water Feature is anchored by a 12 foot tall and 16 foot wide stone and bronze monolith featuring an engraved topographic map of the Columbia River watershed. Water cascades down this monument into a pool below, flowing 180 feet, past stacks of textured granite. These granite stones are engraved with the names of major Columbia River tributaries, facts about those tributaries (origin, length, etc.) and quotes and poems about rivers and streams. Water emanates from and over these granite stones to join the main flow of the water feature. The many sources of water create variability in depth (between 1 and 5 inches) and experience.

The water feature is set to run between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the spring and fall season.

Park Hours and Fees

Vancouver Waterfront Park is open to the public from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are no fees for this park. On street parking is metered on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Outside these times it is free to park in designated spaces along the street. Additionally, parking lots operated by private business are available.

Reconnecting to the Waterfront

The Vancouver Waterfront development project is now underway, with new restaurants, apartment buildings, office buildings and the beautiful new 7-acre park and pier now open to the public. And there's more to come!

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Columbia River Renaissance Trail (5 miles)

The Columbia River Renaissance Trail connects Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver with Wintler Park along a paved five-mile long riverfront trail perfect for walking, jogging, biking or rollerblading.

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