Discover the story of Lilac Way.

Lined with 7,000 lilac bushes, Lilac Way was a 12.5 mile ‘Showcase Section’ of Highway 100 near Minneapolis, MN.

Built by the WPA during the Great Depression of the 1930s, it featured seven roadside parks with beehive-shaped fireplaces and stunning rock gardens.

Only two parks remain today, and part of a third park. Help support preservation of Graeser Park and Rock Island and visit restored Lilac Park.

Featured on KSTP-TV by Joe Mazan

KSTP-TV’s Joe Mazan profiled Lilac Park’s restored beehive fireplace for their ‘So Minnesota’ series.

Their ‘So Minnesota’ stories showcase the people, places and things unique to Minnesota. In December 2020, they featured the history of Lilac Way and the restored beehive fireplace in Lilac Park in St. Louis Park, MN.

Joe interviewed Karen Laukkonen of Restore Lilac Way to hear the story behind this local landmark. Thanks for sharing these rare historic Lilac Way parks with the KSTP audience.

What was Lilac Way?

Highway 100 was part of a 66-mile ‘Belt Line’ highway built around the Twin Cities in the late 1930’s. Lilac Way was a 12.5 mile ‘Showcase Section’ between Robbinsdale and Edina.

Why was Highway 100 called Lilac Way?

Inspired by the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., in 1935 a local newspaper encouraged the MN Highway Department to plant lilacs along the new Highway 100. They agreed, and a garden club helped raise money.

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Beehive Fireplaces

Seven Parks

Graeser Park

Lilac Park, restored

Supporting preservation of two historic 1939 Lilac Way parks

Join the groundswell to restore Graeser Park and its rare beehive fireplace.

Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, MN has one of only two beehive fireplaces left in the U.S. Handcrafted in 1939 as one of seven of Lilac Way parks, this piece of history desperately needs to be saved and restored.

Group formed for future Graeser Park fundraising

The Graeser Park Restoration & Preservation (GPR&P) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with one mission – future fundraising to restore Graeser Park.

Help preserve Rock Island and raise awareness of this 1939 park.

Saved from demolition, Rock Island is all that remains of the original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard. Its oval pool, 10′ footbridge to an island and handcrafted curved stone bench are hidden by a noise wall.

We encourage efforts to preserve and raise awareness for this park.

In 2008, the beehive fireplace in the South section of Lilac Park was moved and restored.

Where were the seven Lilac Way parks located on Highway 100?

If you grew up in the area, you probably remember the roadside parks with with picnic tables. The fireplaces had round tops and were nicknamed ‘beehives.”

Only two of the seven parks remain today. Sadly, the other five parks were razed for Highway 100 reconstruction. Check the map for locations and info.

Get to know the Lilac Way enthusiast behind this website.

Karen Laukkonen launched restorelilacway.com to document Lilac Way’s history, and support and encourage restoration.

The pro bono project was conceived, written and designed through her website design company, Laukkonen Design.

Browse the photo albums.

Photo Albums Overview Page

Start your virtual drive down Lilac Way’s history and parks right here.

RESTORED: Lilac Park (formerly Roadside Park)

St. Louis Park, MN

NEEDS TO BE RESTORED: Graeser Park

Robbinsdale, MN

NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED: Rock Island