About Lake Quivira Trails
The founders of our community saw the beauty of the Tooley Creek valley in the '20s when they began to assemble land for Lake Quivira. The written record of our community, primarily the Quiviran, has many accounts of residents communing with nature and appreciating "nature at its best" - a marketing slogan from the era. It's unclear when the trails we enjoy today were first developed, but it's safe to guess many date back over one hundred years.
The Natural Resources Committee (NRC) was formed in 2010 by Mike Cooper to advocate for the conservation and preservation of Quivira's natural assets. The NRC is a subcommittee to the Lake and Residential/Safety and Security committee of the Board, similar to the fishing club or the saddle club. The NRC is comprised of members who have an interest in our natural environment.
In 2016, Fred Braun made a gift of $25,000 for development of Trail 1, the Waterfall Trail. Bob Borberg enjoyed running his four dogs on the trails and built many of the first bridge crossings of various streams. Former board president John Nelson was instrumental in fundraising $100,000 for the construction of the Nature Center in 2018. During the Covid lockdown era, the Mothers Club saw the benefit of introducing their homebound children to nature's classroom, right in our own backyard, and conceived the Kids in Nature (KIN) program. The Mothers' Club successfully raised $50,000 and the Lake Quivira Foundation provided a $25,000 matching grant to improve and add to the trail system plus add signage and promote awareness. The KIN initiative also funded much needed trail maintenance equipment. In 2025, with proceeds from the Duck Derby fundraiser, the NRC reconstructed the Tooley Creek Bridge. In 2026, the NRC plans to reconstruct the Coronado Bridge on Trail 1 that was washed out in the big flood in July 2025.
In addition to trail construction and maintenance, the NRC advocates for nature causes within the community. The NRC supports the Tree City USA designation the City of Lake Quivira maintains sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation. The Audubon Society's Signature Sanctuary Certification obtained by the golf course is another NRC supported initiative. Quivira's first three core values are a great encapsulation of the NRC's mission:
Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Preservation of Green Space
Preserving the Lake and its Surrounding Natural Assets
If you are interested in learning more or care to join the committee, please reach out to a member. Or better yet, take a hike on our nearly ten miles of maintained trails through our beautiful green space.
