Explore the Trails at Woodneath Library Center

The resources available at the Woodneath Library Center go beyond materials and the internet. You can also access 33 acres of nature and a one-mile trail all at this one location!

Writers exploring the trails during the August 2023 Story Center program “Writing Nature.”

In the midst of Kansas City’s bustling Northland, Woodneath’s acreage offers an escape into nature. The property features ten acres of woodlands, a creek that runs south to north along the length of the property, and other wetlands, including two bioretention basins and a marsh. MCPL’s Facilities Maintenance Department is working diligently to transition the traditional landscaping on the grounds to native grasses and wildflowers. The long-term goals are to restore the east side of the property to ten acres of prairie and the west side to three acres of meadow.

MCPL’s Facilities also works closely with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America to provide opportunities for Eagle Scout and Gold Award projects. Two such projects brought birdhouses and bat houses to the grounds. The Woodneath Library Center acreage promotes environmental sustainability and supports wildlife and pollinators in the area.

The marsh with a former outbuilding in the background. Wildflowers alongside the trail.

Along the gravel paths, walkers will discover remnants of the property’s past as a farmstead: a steel frame marking where the barn, likely constructed in 1875, used to stand; the foundation of the stable, also likely built in 1875; and the original brick silo, built in 1920 and still standing. Historical interpretation markers posted along the trails offer details about the land’s agricultural and environmental history, as well as information about the historic house, built in 1855-56, and the property’s connection to the surrounding community.

The silo, stable, and barn in 1976, and today.

The Story Center, located on the Woodneath Library Center campus, invites you to connect to the property on Saturday, May 31, at our special program, Plein Air Micro Essay Writing. Offered in partnership with The New Territory magazine, this full-day writing intensive will offer a series of exciting activities, including a talk by Story Center Director Mark Livengood on the history of Woodneath and a guided writing prompt walk-about led by writer Michaella Thornton.

Visit Woodneath Library Center this spring to walk the trails and be inspired!

Melanie Pierce
Story Center Program Manager