MnDOT and the City of St. Louis Park have met to discuss the future of Rock Island and its surrounding green space.
If you support historic Rock Island and its open meadow, please stay informed about this issue and support preservation of this historic park and green space. This Lilac Way park is at risk, and we will need your help.
FIRST OF ALL: No decisions have been made.
Restore Lilac Way is communicating with key decision-makers to clarify facts, inform the public and encourage community involvement in this critical decision.
New details will be added when they are confirmed.
Last updated on October 3, 2021, 2:00pm.
Why is Rock Island so important?
- Valued community park land for 80+ years
- One of only two rock gardens left in MN, includes an oval pool, 10′ footbridge to an island and handcrafted curved limestone bench built in 1930s
- Green space may support native pollinators in decline, such as native rusty patch bumblebee and monarch butterflies, which have been identified nearby
- One of only three remaining Lilac Way parks of seven
- Enhances neighborhood livability and connectivity
- Native habitat for plants, birds, deer, wild turkeys
Stay informed. Please email karen@restorelilacway.com to be added to receive email updates, or check our Facebook group.
Here’s what we know so far.
MnDOT is evaluating options to designate Rock Island and its surrounding green space as Surplus Property, and made a preliminary land offer to the City of St. Louis Park on Sept. 30, 2021.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has started a 3-6 month process to consider designating Rock Island and its surrounding land as Surplus Property. Currently divided into two land parcels, this property includes both the historic 1939 Rock Island stone structures and its large surrounding green space.
Rock Island is one of only two rock gardens remaining in Minnesota, and all that remains of the original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard.
What will happen if MnDOT decides Rock Island is surplus property?
If MnDOT determines that Rock Island and its surrounding land have no transportation purposes, it will be deemed Surplus Property. This means MnDOT would like to transfer ownership of the property to the City of St. Louis Park for public purpose at no charge, or sell to a developer for private use.
In anticipation that Rock Island’s two land parcels will be declared surplus property, MnDOT offered to give the land to the City of St. Louis Park for free, with first right of refusal. On September 30th, 2021, MnDOT met with City representatives to review this offer and answer questions. City staff included Engineering Director Deb Heiser and Planning/Zoning Supervisor Sean Walther.
The City of St. Louis Park must notify MnDOT by December 30th if they will accept or decline MnDOT’s offer to transfer ownership of Rock Island and surrounding green space to the City for public use, at no charge.
After meeting with MnDOT on September 30th, City staff have a lot to consider regarding MnDOT’s offer of Rock Island, including
- What City resources would be required for maintenance
- Size of property being offered
- Community suggestions for property use
- Conditions to accepting the offer (Restore Lilac Way believes MnDOT is offering the land only for public use, so the City would not be allowed to turn around and sell it to a private developer, I am working to confirm this)
- The City must respond to MnDOT within 90 days
What is the City doing now? (Please be patient, I am confirming the steps in this process)
- City representatives will review MnDOT’s offer and look at every position and option for the land
- They will bring a report and their recommendations to policy makers
- If a majority of Council Members want to go further, the decision will be voted on by the Council
- The Community will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on this land offer
- If a majority of Council Members does not want to go further, MnDOT will be informed that the City declines their offer
- The Community will not have an opportunity to voice their opinions on this land offer
What did the City say in 2012?
- At a November 19, 2012 City of St. Louis Park Special Study Session to discuss a Highway 100 construction update. it was the consensus of the City Council that the City should not expend staff resources or money to preserve the Rock Garden. it was not brought to a Council vote. Read page 3 of the meeting’s minutes.
Since the process to designate surplus land can take 3-6 months. MnDOT will not move forward with sale of the land until after the City has formally accepted or declined MnDOT’s offer.
The City of St. Louis Park released this statement on Oct. 1, 2021:
“The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has reached out to city staff regarding a parcel of land west of Toledo Ave. and south of 28th St. in the Fern Hill neighborhood. This parcel includes Rock Island, part of the original Lilac Park which was built by the WPA in the 1930s.
MnDOT no longer needs the land and has begun a review process to relinquish ownership. When this process is complete, which can take months to a year or more, SLP will be first in line to have control of the land.
City staff have begun brainstorming possible future land uses that align with our strategic priorities and will bring this information to council in the next 2-3 months. Stay tuned!”
Restore Lilac Way’s statement
This lush open green space with a 1930s rock garden is a valuable treasure in St. Louis Park. Losing this land would be a travesty.
Restore Lilac Way will be launching a public campaign to encourage community members to show their support, and ask the SLP City Council to accept MnDOT’s free land offer.
This decision places this rare open green space with a historic park at high risk. If the City does not accept the offer, MnDOT will sell the land in a closed bid. That new owner is going to want the highest return on their investment, which will probably include multi-family housing.
If that happens, it is unlikely the historic Rock Island rock garden will be saved.
Restore Lilac Way encourages the City of St. Louis Park to save this land, and prevent future development.
We are committed to raising community awareness of this incredibly important issue, and encourage the City to preserve Rock Island and its surrounding open green space.
We see only two possible outcomes.
Outcome One
- City staff recommends that Council Members accept MnDOT’s offer to transfer Rock Island and the surrounding green space land to the City for free
- The majority of Council Members agree
- The item would be added to a future Council agenda
- The community would provide feedback and make their voice heard in this critical decision
- Council votes to approve the offer
- MnDOT is notified of this decision
- Rock Island and its surrounding land would be owned by the City of St. Louis Park
NOTE: I am confirming this info – I am not familiar with City Council processes.
Outcome Two
- City staff recommends that Council Members decline MnDOT’s offer to transfer Rock Island and the surrounding green space land to the City for free
- The majority of Council Members agree
- The item would not be added to a future Council agenda
- The community would be denied a chance to make their voice heard in this critical decision
- After the land was officially declared surplus, MnDOT’s Land Management would sell the land in a closed bidding process to a developer
NOTE: I am confirming this info – I am not familiar with City Council processes.
What can we do now?
This news was announced on Oct. 3, 2021. Please stay informed. Restore Lilac Way will be be rallying community support to encourage the City Council to accept MnDOT’s offer.
First, read more here and the click one button to email the Mayor and City Council – urge them to say YES to MnDOT’s offer.
Second, join the “Say Yes to Rock Island Park” virtual rally! Just five minutes and a photo will help us.
We also post info on Restore Lilac Way’s Facebook group (no account needed) and SLP’s NextDoor group (registration required).
Stay informed. Please email karen@restorelilacway.com to be added to receive email updates.
