Wouldn't it be nice to walk along the trails in our community and be able to identify the different kinds of trees? We thought this was a great idea, so we spent the afternoon with a lady from the Missouri Conservation Department who pointed out all the different trees along the Briarcliff Nature Trail. 

Students at Briarcliff Elementary frequently visit these trails during class and on their own leisure time, and are always asking, "What kind of tree is that?" After our visit with the MO Conservation Department, we learned there are hundreds of different kinds of trees along the nature trails. Some are a little tricky to identify, but the clues can be found in the leaves, acorns, bark, size and growth pattern. We are so excited for kids, and fellow neighbors, to finally be able to see what kinds of trees are surrounding us. 

What are you doing to celebrate National Trails Day? Check out some local events happening around the Briarcliff community! http://bit.ly/1jQOjCc

We are absolutely elated to announce that we secured $225,000 in funding for a brand new, paved trail at Water Works Park! This will be a perimeter trail that will run along the outer edges of the park. This trail is a part of the official Water Works Park Master Plan drafted by the Kansas City, Missouri Parks Department. 

We sincerely thank the KCMO Parks Department, the PIAC committee, Councilman Jan Marcason, Councilman Jim Glover, and all of the Briarcliff residents who supported this trail. We are absolutely thrilled the park will finally receive this much needed trail, and we are very happy to see this park transition into a beautiful amenity for our community and the northland. 

- Tim Johnston and Jenny Johnston

Pictured above are 1st grade students from Briarcliff Elementary leaving carrots and calling for the Lirpaloof bird on the Briarcliff nature trail, that only comes out on the first day of April. Who knew our trails were home to such magical creatures?! 

Briarcliff Trails of Our Community recently signed a contract with Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation to adopt the Briarcliff Greenway and the non-residential part of Briarcliff Parkway. Under this agreement, we are responsible for picking up litter, clearing away brush and preserving the natural beauty of the area. The city's Adopt-A-Trail program encourages businesses, organizations, communities and even individual residents to keep the city's trails clean and accessible. Several years ago, Briarcliff Trails of Our Community signed an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation for their Adopt-A-Highway program, and has picked up more than 340 bags of trash to date. We felt it only made sense to extend our efforts to the trails along Briarcliff Parkway and the Greenway. For more photos and information, go to our Adopt-A-Trail & Highway page. 

Join us at Briarcliff Elementary School as we welcome back the sunshine and celebrate National Trails Day on June 1! This nationwide event is a public service that promotes healthy and active communities, increased value of public assets, community and family cohesion, and outdoor education. 

Bring your families, pets, bikes, a good pair of shoes and enjoy the trails and nature in the Briarcliff community. Visitors will receive a map of existing and planned trails in and around Briarcliff. Arrive around 10 a.m. on the walking trail behind the school. See you there! 

Enhancements were recently made to the Briarcliff Nature Trail. For photos and details of the trail upgrades, visit the Trail Enhancements page.