Take a walk, learn something new

Take a walk, learn something new
Posted on 06/14/2019
You can learn about nature and water quality, get some exercise and enjoy the natural beauty of Lenexa on two recently installed walking tours.

Raindrop Walk

Walk begins at the Lenexa Rec Center, 17201 w. 87th St. Pkwy. About 0.55 miles start to finish, 1.1 miles round trip.

Bustling Lenexa City Center is designed to be dynamic, dense and unlike many of the grassy neighborhoods of our suburban community. But all this activity — combined with ample concrete surfaces and rooftops — can create challenges in keeping pollutants out of our lakes and streams.

This self-guided walking tour takes you on the journey of a raindrop through six stops from the Lenexa Rec Center’s main entrance to a bridge over the creek that carries water to Shawnee Mission Lake.

At each sign, you’ll learn what challenges we face in protecting our water supply, how Lenexa treats rain runoff and ways you can help improve water quality at home — many of which you can receive reimbursement for through our Cost Share Program.

As you walk back to the civic campus after finishing the tour, try to spot all the native wildlife hidden in each sign. Protecting water quality also protects their natural habitats.

Evan Knaus Memorial Tree Walk

Black Hoof Park, 8053 Monticello Rd. Trail is approximately 2.5 miles.

Scenic Black Hoof Park at 90th Street and Monticello Road offers many delights for nature lovers, including boating and fishing on Lake Lenexa, a unique dam and spillway, natural play areas for kids, and miles of trails through open grass and wooded areas. On your next visit, look for a sign near the Oak Shelter that maps the new Evan Knaus Memorial Tree Walk.

Evan Knaus was a City of Lenexa employee who worked as part of the Parks & Recreation landscape crew. He passed away in February 2016 while on the job. His family, friends and co-workers funded a unique memorial to honor Evan’s passion for nature and trees.

Along the Black Hoof Park Trail that surrounds the lake, nearly three dozen trees are identified with plaques that show a typical leaf and list their key characteristics. As you stroll or jog around Lake Lenexa, you can learn about the diversity of our trees while also enjoying the beauty of nature.


Published June 14, 2019