A busy waterfront park with many people walking, sitting, and enjoying the sunny day. There are tall modern buildings, green trees, and a bridge over the water in the background.

The Headwaters Water Feature

A powerful tribute to the Columbia

At the center of the park, The Headwaters Water Feature brings together movement, history, art and play.

What You’ll Find

  • An interactive and playful history lesson

  • A one-inch-deep river flowing 150 feet along a molded riverbed

  • Stacks of granite representing each of the Columbia River’s tributaries

  • Interactive fountains and wading areas for warm-weather play

 
 
 

A Living Map of the River

Larry Kirkland also designed The Headwaters Water Feature which reflects the Columbia River system, highlighting tributaries, landscapes, and the communities peoples that have populated and traveled rivers that feed into the mighty Columbia.

With flowing water, sculptural elements and space to wade and cool off, it’s both a place to play and a place to learn, making it one of the most memorable features of the park.

Check to see if The Headwaters Water Feature is open »

 
A young girl wearing a swimsuit, sunhat, and sunglasses playing in a shallow water feature at a park on a sunny day, with people sitting on benches and shopping area in the background.
Children and adults playing and relaxing by a water feature in a city park on a sunny day, with a modern apartment building in the background.
A boy wearing a red long-sleeved shirt and colorful shorts stands barefoot on wet ground, facing a large black informational display about the Columbia River, with a small sample of rock or earth in front of it.

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