Graeser Park’s story started in the 1930s.

1922 | Born and raised in Germany, Carl Graeser earned a civil engineering degree from Vermont’s Norwich University in 1909. He joined the Minnesota Highway Department (now MnDOT) as a project engineer in 1922. He became a champion for the Belt Line project.

March 15, 1944 | Known as the ‘Father of the Belt Line’, Carl F. Graeser, 70, was found dead at the wheel of his car. Lilac Way’s Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, MN, is his namesake.

Winter, 1997 | The beehive fireplace appears damaged and the 1930s picnic tables are missing pieces.

Summer, 2001 | Beehive and tables remained while MnDOT planned to turn the park into a staging area for equipment. Construction materials can be seen on the right side.

October 10, 2007 | Table foundations were seen after MnDOT removed picnic tables to create a staging area for road construction equipment for a 2001 $100M Highway 100 construction project. The salvaged stonework was stored in MnDOT’s ‘Beehive Graveyard’ with stone from three lost Lilac Way parks.

April 25, 2008 | Karen Laukkonen was stunned to see salvaged 1930s Lilac Way stone picnic table tops, bases and stone pieces stacked in a MnDOT parking lot. Known as the ‘Beehive Graveyard’, the stone was salvaged from three parks before they were razed for 2001 road construction. It included Graeser Park’s picnic tables, removed to create a construction staging area.

July 12, 2009 | The benches looked neglected.

June 24, 2010 | The rock garden’s cone fountain is almost completely covered. Photo: John Hermanson.

June 8, 2013 | Lions and the Diggers Garden Club removed trash and weed from the rock garden.

May 9, 2015 | The Lions Club’s clean up day included a history display and a rock garden cleanup crew.

April 17, 2018 | Robbinsdale Lion Kent Brun visited Karen Laukkonen’s design studio and shared the Lion’s’ efforts to preserve Graeser Park. He was thrilled to see the new website pre-launch, including large historic photos and key information, and was enthusiastic about her project.

June 8, 2018 | The Robbinsdale Lions Club invited Karen Laukkonen to their monthly Graeser Park cleanup events. This was the first of many events documented for the restorelilacway.com web site.

September 1, 2018 | Visitors play Pokémon Go, an augmented reality game that uses GPS to locate, capture, train, and battle virtual Pokémon, which appear as if they are at the beehive fireplace.

August 8, 2020 | Karen Laukkonen at Restore Lilac Way contacted Andrea Weber, Manager of MnDOT Historic Roadside Properties Program, to approve an Eagle Scout project in Rock Island Park. This innocent request changed Lilac Way’s history forever, leading Andrea to investigate Graeser Park and Rock Island Park. After seeing enthusiastic community support for both historic parks, she directed a three-year, $500,000 Graeser Park restoration and removed diseased trees and invasive species while preserving the intact original lilacs in Rock Island Park.

November 6, 2020 | After reviewing salvaged table sections in Robbinsdale’s Public Works Yard, Andrea Weber at MnDOT told shocked volunteers that she hoped to rebuild 11 picnic tables in Graeser Park. These pieces were from multiple lost Lilac Way roadside parks, including Graeser, when they were demolished in the 2000s for the reconstruction of the highway.

Spring, 2021 | Andrea S. Weber, Professional Landscape Architect and Program Manager of MnDot’s Historic Roadside Property Program, directed a series of restoration projects at Graeser Park totaling just under $500,000.

Summer, 2021 | The first Beehive and Picnic Area Rehab Project was designed by Andrea S. Weber, PLA, MnDOT Historic Roadside Properties and Waysides Program Manager, and the design team of MacDonald and Mack Architects and Damon Farber Associates Landscape Architects.

Summer, 2021 | Jeannine McDonald, aka Niner, dedicated the first COVID summer to clearing up the rock garden. She created a 32-page file called ‘A Long Way from 2013’  documenting her progress through before and after photos. Niner was just one of many Robbinsdale Lions committed to preserving this historic park.

October 7, 2021 | EAI Historic Restoration cleaned of more than 80 years of dirt and grime from the rare 1940 beehive fireplace.

Spring, 2022 | EAI stabilized and repaired the beehive fireplace, reconstructed 10 picnic tables and pads, completed new stone replacement and repointed flagstone ring at beehive base. They also installed a stainless steel cap to cover the beehive flues, preventing freeze thaw damage while allowing air flow. They repointed the top course of the overlook wall and repaired three end piers at the three stairs to picnic area. The wall was also cleaned with biologic cleaner.

Summer, 2022 | EAI rebuilt ten picnic tables using stone salvaged from lost 1930s Lilac Way parks. MnDOT saved stone from Lilac parks razed for road construction. This included Graeser Park’s picnic tables, which were removed in the late 1990s to create a construction staging area. After seeing Restore Lilac Way’s photos from MnDOT’s ‘Beehive Graveyard’, Robbinsdale City Manager Marcia Glick had the foresight to move the historic materials to Robbinsdale’s Public Works Yard.

Summer, 2023 | MnDOT planted garden beds on either side of the stairs to the rock garden. Plantings were modified after the discovery of stone bed edging. Native perennial plants were added into the bed areas, with shrubs buffering the edge of the planting beds.

June, 2023 | Environmental Associates Inc. (EAI) completed the Rock Garden and Accessibility Improvements project. They stabilized the rock garden walls and pools, provided an accessible walk to the beehive and to view rock garden, built a new accessible picnic table and added a walk along Broadway Avenue with accessible parking. The project was designed by the team of MacDonald and Mack Architects and Damon Farber Associates Landscape Architects.

July 6, 2023 | Fun event showcased MnDOT’s major preservation and restoration project. Andrea Weber, Manager of MnDOT’s Historic Roadside Properties Program, discussed the history and community importance. Director Chad Green led a concert by the Robbinsdale City Band. Perfect 70° weather. Organized by Kristi Gibson, sponsored by Robbinsdale Historical Society and Robbinsdale Lions Club.

January, 2024 | Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concurred with historian’s recommendation that Graeser Park was still eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

April 23, 2024 | A fundraiser was set up to create a tribute planting in the rock garden to honor the lives of dedicated Graeser Park volunteers that we have lost, including Robbinsdale Lions Jeannine ‘Niner’ McDonald and Kent Brun, and Architectural Historian Carol Ahlgren. Created by Restore Lilac Way, the Robbinsdale Historical Society and the Robbinsdale Lions Club.

July 11, 2024 | The community enjoyed a concert by the Robbinsdale City Band, led by Director Chad Green. Sponsored by the Robbinsdale Lions and the Robbinsdale Historical Society in support of Graeser Park Restoration & Preservation.

Spring, 2025 | The process involves re-writing the nomination onto federal forms, creating new photos, and submitting the draft to the State Board. If approved, it is submitted to the Department of Interior for Graeser Park to be included on the National Register.

December 23, 2025 | Thanks to MnDOT, dedicated volunteers, and a passionate community, Graeser Park was officially added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.