Columbia Park (Tri-Cities) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbia Park
Columbia Park East & Columbia Park West
The Columbia River along Columbia Park
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Location	Benton County, Washington, United States
Area	450 acres (1.8 km2)
Owned by	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Operated by	City of Kennewick City of Richland
Status	Open all year

Columbia Park is a large public park in Benton County, Washington, United States. It is made up of two parts. There is the 400-acre Columbia Park East in Kennewick. Next to it is the 50-acre Columbia Park West in Richland.

Together, these two parts form a huge 450-acre park. It has about 4.5 miles of shoreline along the Columbia River. The park is a very popular place for people who live in the Tri-Cities area.

Fun Things to Do

Columbia Park has lots of fun things to do. You can find a golf course and a disc golf course here. There is also a special pond where families can go fishing.

Trails for Exploring

There are several trails in Columbia Park for hiking and biking. A cool bike trail called the Sacagawea Heritage Trail goes all through the park. It loops around the Tri-Cities. This trail lets bikers reach Pasco and Central Richland. The trail is very popular, especially when the weather is warm.

Veterans Memorial

At the east end of the park, there is a Veterans Memorial. This memorial has the tallest freestanding granite structure in the United States. It stands 40 feet tall.

Geocaching Adventures

Geocaching is a popular activity in the park. In 2015, there were 19 hidden geocaches in Columbia Park for people to find.

Playground of Dreams

The Playground of Dreams is located at the east end of the park. It was first built in 1999. About half of the money for the playground came from donations. Many volunteers, around 6,000 people, helped build it.

Sadly, the playground was damaged by fire in 2003. But the community worked together again! They raised money to rebuild it. Volunteers gave over 8,000 hours of their time to help. The playground reopened on May 8, 2004.

The Playground of Dreams looks like a wooden castle. It has artwork that looks like a spaceship, a farm, a house, and a pirate ship. You can also see local landmarks like the Blue Bridge and the Cable Bridge. The playground also has swings, monkey bars, a climbing wall, and an obstacle course.

Right next to the Playground of Dreams, you will find a family fishing pond. There is also an aquatic playground where kids can splash and play.

Boat Launches

There are a few places in and near Columbia Park where you can launch boats. These spots give boaters easy access to the Columbia River. All the boat launches have parking lots. These lots also serve as starting points for the Sacagawea Heritage Trail.

Park Events

Since 1966, Columbia Park has hosted a hydroplane race called the Columbia Cup. During this race, you might need to pay a fee to enter some parts of the park. Also, some parts of the Sacagawea Heritage Trail are closed.

On Independence Day, there is a big party in the park. It is called the River of Fire Celebration. You can find many food and craft vendors. There are activities all day long. The celebration ends with fireworks launched from a boat on the river.

The park also hosts several other community events throughout the year. In the winter, some brave people even take a "polar bear plunge" into the cold water!

Park History

During the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the area that is now Columbia Park. They traveled up to Bateman Island in Richland. This island was the furthest point upstream on the Columbia River that they explored.

In July 1996, something very interesting was found in the river. Some people discovered ancient human remains. Scientists studied these remains and learned they belonged to a man who lived about 9,400 years ago. This discovery was very important, and the remains were named Kennewick Man.