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. 

On August 20, a new off-leash dog park opened on NE 32nd St. and Swift in North Kansas City, just adjacent to Briarcliff. Waggin' Trail Park is 4.7 acres and has two separate fenced in areas for small dogs and large dogs to let loose and have fun. The park features a walking trail, benches, two ADA water fountains and an agility course that consists of weave poles rope jump, an A-Frame ramp and tunnels. Former Briarcliff Elementary alum, Preston Sivils, designed and built several of the obstacle courses for his Eagle Scout project. 

This park was created by a partnership between the City of North Kansas City and the City of Kansas City, Mo. With a large turnout for the grand opening, we anticipate the park to be a popular spot for dog lovers. Many Briarcliff residents advocated for years to build a dog park in or near our community, and we are very blessed to finally have such a wonderful amenity so close to our neighborhoods.

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

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. 

Dog lovers and their furry friends gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the brand new off-leash dog park in North Kansas City. The City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation partnered with the City of North Kansas City to construct a 4-acre dog park at 32nd and Swift, just south of Water Works Park and minutes away from Briarcliff. The dog park will have two separate fenced in areas, a shelter, drinking fountain and a crushed stone trail. This park is one of three in Kansas City and is the only one north of the river. The opening is scheduled for 2014. 

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! 

Coach Dever and students from Briarcliff Elementary planted a tree at English Landing Park in honor of National Take Your Child to a Park Day, celebrated on May 18. The park is a popular destination with a beautiful trail along the banks of the Missouri River in Parkville, just five minutes away from Briarcliff. Sadly, more than 80 percent of the trees in the park were wiped out after the flood during the summer of 2011. 

Thank you to Coach Dever and the students of Briarcliff Elementary for their time, hard work and generosity in giving back to the local community. Briarcliff couldn't be more proud!!

For more information about National Kids to Park Day, visit their website at www.kidstoparks.org