Last updated 02/13/2022, 4:21:06 PM On February 7, 2022, St. Louis Park’s City Council voted to approve the meeting agenda, which included 4k. Direct staff to submit a letter of interest to acquire land that Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has deemed to be excess right-of-way. Sadly, that does NOT mean Lilac Way’s historic Rock…
Rock Island Park, Sept. 8, 2021. Looking east over the rock garden, one of only two left in MN. Rock Island Park, Sept. 8, 2021. Looking north to the park's open meadow. Here are the latest Rock Island Park updates from MnDOT’s West Area Engineer and the Engineering Director of the City of St. Louis…
October 15, 2021. A sister park to restored Lilac Park, Lilac Way’s historic Rock Island park is facing a critical decision: preservation as a public park, or sale to a private developer. On Sept. 30th, 2021 MnDOT met with the City of St. Louis Park to discuss their interest in park ownership. Join the Rally!…
Click just one button to write and send your own email to the Mayor, seven Council Members and Restore Lilac Way. Lilac Way’s historic Rock Island park is facing a critical decision: preservation as a public park, or sale to a private developer. Let’s show the City of St. Louis Park that Lilac Way fans, history…
April 9, 2021. Rock Island has a dramatic new look! This historic Lilac Way park hasn’t seen this much action in decades. After marking protected trees and shrubs with blue ribbons, MnDOT removed diseased, damaged and invasive trees and shrubs in late March 2021. Thanks to Historic Roadside Property Program (HRPP) Manager Andrea Weber for…
Rock Island will be getting some well-deserved TLC from MnDOT starting March 22-26. Invasive plants and trees are causing damage to the historic stone structures and deterring growth of quality plantings in Rock Island. Built during the Great Depression, it is all that remains of the original Lilac Park near Minnetonka Boulevard and Highway 100.…
11.26.20. Civic groups, non-profits, businesses and individuals are urged to consider sponsorship of Rock Island. Raise the profile of your group by supporting a beloved St. Louis Park historic WPA-built wayside park. This rare Depression-era Lilac Way rock garden is all that remains of the now-lost original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard.
Great news—MnDOT’s Historic Roadside Property Program has scheduled a cleanup project for this 1939 Lilac Way park. Funding was allocated in response to park supporters After speaking with Rock Island supporters and learning of increased community interest, Historic Roadside Property Program (HRPP) Manager Andrea Weber dedicated funding to improve St. Louis Park’s Rock Island. MnDOT…
7.26.20. Exciting news! Our own Lilac Way is featured in historian Joanna Dowling’s new “Along The Way: Midwest Waysides and Rest Stops” video. This well-written and researched film documents the places we stop when we are on the way to somewhere else. Scroll down to watch video The Lilac Way section starts at about 9:00,…
Jan. 1, 2020. When the restorelilacway.com website re-launched in May 2018, it included a new Lilac Way stories section. Now I’ve collected many interesting memories from Lilac Way visitors. This latest story from Ed Stately is my favorite so far. He saw a Restore Lilac Way Facebook post with a beehive fireplace, and his memories…