Life's A Walk in the Park
By Josh Fitzwater |
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The economy sucks. Everyone knows that. But for your dog, it doesn't have to. Columbus and its neighboring cohort communities have the answer for the working-man canine blues. The answer is good for the Benjamins in your wallet - or more likely the Washingtons and Lincolns, these days - and equates to fun times for the entire family. The solution to your pooch's woes is the plethora of dog parks that have sprung up in the past five years. Whether you're a worn doggie recreational veteran that is already on the circuit, hopping from park to park like you're part of a dog peloton, or a rookie owner who thinks your new puppy won't eat your favorite pair of Nike high-top Dunks, there are top-notch dog parks right by you that are free and offer more than just a new place for your furry friend to mark his territory. Here are three of the best free dog parks in and around the outer belt.
Wheeler Park - Short North
If you're an ultra-urban business socialite or a well-versed artsy kid who likes to be where the action is, this is probably the dog park for you. Wheeler Park is tucked away in Victorian Village and offers a quick fix for people-on-the-go with their four-legged friends. Nestled on Thurber Drive, off of Neil Avenue (behind the Giant Eagle), Wheeler Park is a little green slice of heaven for your dog in the concrete metropolis that is Columbus. The park rests on 1.5 acres, has trees for shade, fresh water to drink, is entirely fenced in, and offers a bunch of like-minded people to wax intellectual with as your dog does a bunch of butt sniffing. With Goodale Park literally right around the corner, you could think of Wheeler Park as its pretty cool red-headed stepchild. There is no separation between big dogs and small dogs, so if your pooch is an ultra-dominant alpha male, this might not be the best park for you. However, the park is a great place for city dwellers to take their pets for some quality socializing and is definitely big enough to let a Frisbee rip or launch an onslaught of tennis balls. The one complaint is that the grass has worn away and the park seems to attract mud like a mosquito to one of those big light bug zapper things. High foot/dog traffic and little maintenance has made this park a bit of a messy one. So, if you do venture out of your condo or loft to Wheeler Park - you may want to bring a towel for your dog and yourself.
Pooch Playground - Gahanna
This dog park is probably the easiest to get to and find for the traveling folk. The 2-acre park sneaks up on you right after you take the Hamilton Road exit from I-270, so keep your eyes peeled. Tucked back in the clearing of what was once Pizzurro Park, Pooch Playground offers the same doggie amenities that you will find in most other dog parks -big, open, fenced-in fields, separate areas for large and small dogs, and a few benches to sit and be a spectator on. The dog commons does offer a little something extra that most other free parks don't have - a full on "Best in Show" obstacle course. This course has everything you and your dog-show pony need to learn the ropes of the Westminster and maybe even excel at it. Alas, cool dog-sized American Gladiator obstacle/gauntlet course aside, there are some things that take this dog park down a couple notches. There is a lack of trees in the area, which on a sunny hot day spells being baked for you and super thirsty for your doggie partner-in-crime. There are no hoses for water and not a lot of grass left either which makes the place look and feel kind of drab. With a few additions and alterations, Pooch Playground could be the paradigm of Central Ohio dog parks. However, given what would need to be done that is probably a lofty goal. Still though, Pooch Playground does offer another great safe place to go for you and your dog to break up the monotony of the same old walk around the block.
Alum Creek Dog Park - Delaware/Westerville
Alum Creek Dog Park will not only be a giant blast for your dog, but chances are, you will get sucked into the oasis as well. With a section of the park actually residing on Alum Creek, it is essentially a big wacky water obstacle course for your dog that doubles as a hub for the who's who of local adventure pet enthusiasts. On any given day you will find dogs doing their patented doggie paddle along with their owners in the reservoir and lots of canine commotion. There are also two separate non-water portions for those land-lovin' dogs. These two segments - one for big dogs and one for small - come equipped with plenty of grassy acreage (4 acres to be exact), big mature trees to shield the sun, benches to sit and catch your breath on, a graveyard of half chewed-up toys that are still good in a dog's eye, fresh water to either drink or wash off the 13 pounds of caked-on mud, and even public restrooms for the owners who didn't go in the creek. Really, Alum Creek Dog Park has it all. The only drawback to this doggie-utopia is that getting there is a major hike. Unless you live in Westerville or Delaware, you can expect a drive time of at least 30 minutes. For a true dog lover, that is a small price to pay to see your best friend go bananas in the water with all of his or her buddies. Alum Creek Dog Park was the only park out of these three that still embodies the look and feel of a park. After some time at Alum Creek in the water and on the open grassy fields, you tend to forget that this place is actually for your dog - and not you.
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Originally Published: September 1, 2009
