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're featured in the 816 North section of the Kansas City Star today!!! Check out the article to find out how we got started and some of the things we do for the community!!

http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/27/5046666/briarcliff-trails-of-our-community.html

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! 

We could not be more happy and excited to announce a new dog park will be constructed at North Oak and 32nd Street! Many Briarcliff residents talked for a long time about their desire for a dog park in our community, and now we will finally have one. The details will be finalized soon and we will keep everyone posted with updates and photos.

We are also pleased to announce that progress is underway for the Levee trail that will connect Briarcliff to North Kansas City and Riverside. This trail is a small, but intricate part of the large trail system that will connect the entire Metropolitan area. Thank you for your support of the Northland trails and parks!