Pizzurro Park Gahanna: Dog Park & Creekside Trail Guide

Not every good walk needs a gorge or a waterfall. Pizzurro Park in Gahanna is a flat, easy, 23-acre community park along Big Walnut Creek, and its claim to fame is one of the largest fenced dog parks in the Columbus area. If you've got a dog who needs to run, or you just want a low-key creekside loop close to the east side, this is a reliable pick.

This isn't a backcountry hike, and it doesn't pretend to be. What you get is paved paths, open green space, creek access, and a four-acre off-leash playground for your dog. It's a neighborhood park doing its job well.

Getting there

Pizzurro Park sits just east of Columbus in Gahanna, tucked along Big Walnut Creek. A short entrance drive off Pizzurro Park Road leads to the parking lot. From there, everything is a flat, easy walk. The park is free and open to the public, with a paved lot, restrooms, and a picnic shelter on site.

The trails and the dog park

Paved walking paths wind through the park, suitable for walking, running, or a stroller, and accessible by wheelchair through much of the grounds. These are short internal loops rather than a long trail, but they connect nicely to the wider Big Walnut Trail system, and Gahanna continues to expand its regional trail network, so the through-connections are improving over time.

The signature feature is the dog park: roughly four acres, fully fenced, with separate areas for small and large dogs, agility equipment, and plenty of off-leash room. It's a genuine destination for east-side dog owners, not an afterthought. Beyond the dog park you'll find a playground, a basketball court, open lawns, and direct access to Big Walnut Creek for fishing and for launching a canoe or kayak.

A park that turned itself around

Pizzurro Park's history is less about settlers and more about recent community planning. For years it was a basic creekside park with ball diamonds, a playground, and canoe access, but parts of it fell into disuse and the park developed a rough reputation that kept families and donors away. A small, informal fenced dog area, partly funded by a local group called Pooch Playground, Inc., became muddy and overcrowded almost as fast as it appeared.

In the late 2000s the City of Gahanna launched a full redesign. A Dog Park Advisory Committee made up of residents, officials, and advocates helped guide the plan, with three goals: improve safety and reputation, make the park more usable for families, and build a modern off-leash facility. The redevelopment replaced the old softball fields with the large, purpose-built dog park you see today, complete with separate dog areas, an agility space, paved paths, and seating. The result turned a declining, underused space into one of the most popular dog parks in the region, driven largely by local demand and organized planning.

If you talk to longtime visitors, some remember a longer access road that once cut deeper into the park, back when cars were allowed farther in to reach the ball fields and creek. That older alignment was shortened and partly converted to walking paths and green space during the overhaul, part of a broader shift toward pedestrian-friendly, flood-safe design along the creek corridor.

Tips and seasonal notes

• Best for: dog owners, a quick walk or run, families with young kids, and casual creek fishing.
• Spring and summer are prime, though the dog park can get muddy after rain. Fall brings nice color along the creek.
• Bring water for you and the dog in warm months, and watch creek levels after storms.
• Pair it with a longer hike. If you want more distance, the regional Big Walnut Trail and the Metro Parks nearby pick up where Pizzurro's short loops leave off.

Nearby parks and trails

• Three Creeks Metro Park — where Big Walnut, Alum, and Blacklick creeks meet, with miles of paved and natural trail just south.
• Blacklick Woods Metro Park — mature forest and boardwalk trails a short drive east.
• Columbus Metro Parks: Franklin County Trail Guide — every Metro Park in the system, mapped and ranked.