A summer 2023 Lilac Way tour is the perfect escape, and it’s free! Stop in at restored Graeser Park, Rock Island and renewed Lilac Park—all located on an 8-mile stretch of Highway 100. Bring a lunch, family and friends, and see the heroic preservation efforts of dedicated volunteers and MnDOT. These three Insta-worthy historic Depression-era…
May 8, 2021. The “Where to Live Now” May 2021 issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine featured the restored beehive fireplace in Lilac Park in St. Louis Park, MN. Their ‘Found Art’ article includes remnants of Twin Cities past that are hiding in plain site. According to writer Andy Sturdevant, “The beehive fireplace from Lilac Park, now…
Cool find! MnDOT’s Historic Roadside Property Program Manager noted something interesting in a 1938 MnDOT Belt Line report showing the cost of creating a Lilac Way stone picnic tables. The seven original Lilac Way parks each had these unique stone tables. The parks were built alongside Highway 100 during the Great Depression, providing work for…
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…
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…
7.6.20. Even eleven years after restoration, Lilac Park in St. Louis Park still surprises me. This Ivory Silk Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata ssp. reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’) was in full bloom in late June. Located on the east side of the park between the path and beehive fireplace, it stopped me right in my tracks.…
7.6.20. Even eleven years after restoration, Lilac Park in St. Louis Park still surprises me. This Ivory Silk Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata ssp. reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’) was in full bloom in late June. Located on the east side of the park between the path and beehive fireplace, it stopped me right in my tracks.…
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…
Sept. 18, 2019. Scroll down to see photos of ‘Nordic Ware: The Art & Science of the Bundt’ exhibit at Norway House. We were thrilled this exhibit featured Nordic Ware’s community involvement in Lilac Park’s restoration. The display includes the Beehive Cake Pan created for the park’s 2009 Grand Opening, a nice writeup and a…