Academy Park and Woodside Green Park are connected by a bike path between the parks. The dividing line between the two parks is Big Walnut Creek. When you cross the bridge over Big Walnut Creek, you move from one park to the other. Many birders have found the area on both sides of Big Walnut Creek south of the bridge to be one of the best locations for migrants.

Part of Academy Park was a former dumpsite for the filtering chalk used by the nearby Columbus Cremeans Water Treatment Plant, and these old chalk dumps have created an interesting series of successional meadows between the footbridge and the athletic fields at Academy Park. The habitat change moving north from the bridge at Big Walnut Creek is distinct. The fields are in Academy Park. The east side of Big Walnut Creek south of the bridge is in Academy Park. The west side of Big Walnut Creek is Woodside Green Park.

This beautiful 32 acre park offers both passive and leisure opportunities for your enjoyment. Amenities such as a playground, canoe launch into the Big Walnut Creek, softball and baseball fields, basketball court, catch and release fishing pond, heated restrooms and a rentable shelter with grill and ample parking.

Woodside Green Park multipurpose trail connects to the Big Walnut Trail north to Academy Park and South to the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course, providing a scenic nature hike or bike ride.

The Big Walnut Trails follows the Big Walnut Creek from Hoover Reservoir to Inniswoods Metro Gardens, running through various beautiful parks along the way. Several segments also pass by Creekside in Gahanna and the southeast area of Columbus.

Communities: Columbus, Gahanna, Westerville

Points of Interest

• Hoover Reservoir
• Gahanna Creekside Park
• Inniswood Metro Park
• Elk Run Park