Meet some of the Graeser Park Beehivers.

Carol’s interest and volunteer activities with Graeser Park stem from her long-term passion for New Deal landscapes. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison for example, she wrote her M.A. thesis on the Civilian Conservation Corps impact on Wisconsin state park development. She has given presentations on the career and work of Arthur R. Nichols, who designed the Lilac Way roadside parks, as well as many other projects for MNDOT.

She’s been involved with research of various historic highways, and was thrilled to realize that Graeser Park’s boundary of West Broadway is the original route of the Jefferson Highway.

Carol and her husband Mark Mueske are members of the reorganized Jefferson Highway Association. Carol received a Minnesota History Society fellowship to research the highway’s route in Minnesota. They both hope to continue to research and map the route and determine its connection to Graeser Park.

She has written National Register of Historic Places nominations for New Deal era parks in Nebraska and Iowa, and is interested in exploring the possibility of a similar designation for Graeser Park.

As a Robbinsdale Lion, Kent has been organizing Graeser Park cleanup days since 2010. His keen focus on saving this park inspires everyone around him to work a little bit harder, and a little bit longer.

Kent is also Vice President of Graeser Park Restoration & Preservation, a non-profit formed to raise funds for Graeser Park.

His wife Janice Brun used to meet her cousin at Graeser Park’s beehive fireplace in the early 1960s. As a Robbinsdale Lion, she now digs in to help with weeding and park cleanup. She also keeps the Graeser Park Beehivers motivated with coffee and donuts.

As President of Graeser Park Restoration and Preservation, Paula is thrilled for the opportunity to bring her passions for historic preservation, parks & gardens, and civic engagement to join others in the effort to save this historic Lilac Way park and its rare beehive fireplace.

A longtime Robbinsdale resident, Paula has served on the Park & Rec and Charter commissions, and has extensive leadership Board experience in organizations as diverse as Robin Child Care and the University of Minnesota Humphrey School Alumni Society.

Paula has devoted years to community organizations, including 8 years as a Girl Scout leader, with Robbinsdale Area Schools as treasurer and fundraiser for Lakeview Elementary School, Sandberg Middle School, Cooper Performing Arts Boosters, and for the MYP & IB programs.

She currently works as the Development Grants Coordinator for the City of Minneapolis, and hopes to tap into her networks to assist GPR&P with its fundraising efforts.

As President of the Robbinsdale Historical Society, Diane supports efforts to save and restore Graeser Park.