Story by Vickie S. Higgins
 VANCOUVER Spacious Esther Short Park, the state’s oldest public square, is the hub of activity in the heart of downtown occupying four square city blocks. An imposing 69-foot tall bell tower with 35 bells welcomes visitors. A Chinook Indian story is inscribed in the basalt column around the base of the tower. Midway up the tower, an animated three scene glockenspiel, depicting a Chinook Indian Tribal legend, plays several times a day.
Kids are welcome to play in the park’s water features and couples tend to gather beneath the towering trees. The park has inviting open spaces, a band stand, a gazebo—even an old historic home has been moved to the park.
The park is now the principal venue for major outdoor events. On July 28, the annual Ho’ike Hawaiian Festival features traditional Polynesian foods, hula dancing, Taiko drummers, and Hawaiian music including a concert by Kalakoa.
On August 24–26, Vancouver’s Wine and Jazz Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary featuring Grammy-winning internationally acclaimed jazz artists. Visitors can also expect to find about 30 Northwest wineries pouring nearly 150 different wines. There will be arts and crafts booths featuring local artists, and delicious cuisine from the area.
The park hasn’t always been this way. Once the heart and soul of downtown Vancouver, by 1990 the park was bordered by an abandoned brewery and became known more for its vagrancy, dilapidated buildings, and crime than as a gathering place.
Support to reclaim the park swelled with encouragement from Mayor Royce Pollard. Between 1999 and 2002, the park underwent a major renovation. The proud mayor loves to call the city America’s Vancouver, advises Jennifer Kirby of the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Bordering the park on Esther Street is an indoor Farmers Market open every day. “Every Saturday and Sunday, the market expands outdoors with over 150 vendors selling everything from bird houses to hand crafted jewelry, to fresh baked pies, and locally grown produce,” says Kirby.
Nearby is the Hilton Vancouver Washington and Vancouver Convention Center. The park is now beautifully landscaped with flower beds galore and a rose garden. Many gather in the park daily to have lunch and kids are always at play here. From July 11 through August 15, free concerts are held every Wednesday at noon, and evening concerts are on Thursdays from July 5 through August 9. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs July 19, at a free concert in the park.
 Hot July Nights is July 20–21. This year’s event features the Doobie Brothers on Friday night and the Temptations on Saturday night.
The city also offers sponsored movie nights in the park on select Fridays during July and August. Dates this year are July 6, 13, 27, and August 10 and 31. “It’s a great event for families with classics such as The Princess Bride and The Goonies,” says Kirby.
Amos and Esther Short were pioneers that arrived on Christmas day in 1845 with their eight children and homesteaded where the park is now. The entire area became Fort Vancouver when the Hudson’s Bay Company assumed control of trading throughout the area. Amos died in a boating accident on the way back from a merchant trip to San Francisco and the management of Fort Vancouver subsequently tried to evict Esther from her homestead. She prevailed and in 1855, deeded the property to the city upon her death.
The park is at 610 Esther Street. From I–5, take exit 1C-1D west on Mill Plain Boulevard; south on Columbia to 8th Street. Metered parking is available around the park and parking is also available in the Park ‘n Go Garage, Columbia and 6th Street in the Vancouver Center Building. (877-600-0800; www.SouthwestWashington.com) |
