Take your own 2023 Lilac Way tour—three parks, eight miles, no entrance fees.

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…

SLP Votes YES to Rock Island Park – Accepts MnDOT’s offer of rock garden at no charge, will buy north meadow with usage TBD

We’ve made history! St. Louis Park has voted to accept Rock Island Park’s south parcel from MnDOT for no fee, and to buy the park’s north parcel for $187,000. On May 1, 2023 the St. Louis Park City Council voted on the much-anticipated resolution to save Lilac Way’s historic Rock Island Park on 28th and…

MNDOT officially offers two Rock Island Park parcels to SLP; City must respond by May 2023

Read long-awaited Rock Island Park updates in City of St. Louis Park’s December 2022 Executive Summary. Council Member Margaret Rog commented “After a years-long wait, MNDOT has finally, officially, offered to convey to the City two land parcels in Ward 1 they consider excess right-of-way, in the 2800 block of Toledo along Hwy. 100. Many…

Rock Island featured in Sun Sailor: Important St. Louis Park history hangs in the balance

New St. Louis Park Sun Sailor column profiles housing threat to historic Rock Island Park. We were thrilled to read Important St. Louis Park history hangs in the balance in the April 11, 2022 Sun Sailor. SLP resident, retired newspaper editor and freelance writer Bruce Lindquist profiled the threat of housing development to historic Rock…

Rock Island Park: Development still possible despite Council vote to send letter of interest to acquire MnDOT land

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…

City waiting for MnDOT’s Rock Island Park environmental, historical review

The City Council will consider historic Rock Island Park options after reviewing MnDOT report. Background: MnDOT has designated Rock Island Park’s two land parcels as ‘surplus’ and wants to relinquish ownership. After meeting with MnDOT, city staff delivered an initial report to council on Nov. 22nd, 2021. It included background and potential land uses (listed…

MnDOT confirms Rock Island Park is surplus land, City of SLP reviewing options

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…