UPDATE, Feb. 18, 2025 – YAY! St. Louis Park’s city council unanimously voted YES on a zoning plan amendment that included a recommendation to rezone Rock Island Park’s north meadow to ‘park and open space.’ Read more
Despite years of highway construction, this historic Lilac Way rock garden has survived.
Built in 1939, this rare rock garden was located on the north end of old Lilac Park. The south end featured lovely ponds, a waterfall wall, stone picnic tables and a beehive fireplace. Only the beehive fireplace and one picnic table were saved from demolition. In 2008, they were moved to a park a just south on Highway 100 and Highway 7. That park was renewed and renamed Lilac Park to honor the lost park.
Saved from demolition in 2023
On May 1, 2023, the St. Louis Park City Council voted YES to a resolution accepting Rock Island Park’s south rock garden parcel for $0 from MnDOT. The city also purchased the north meadow parcel for $189,000, with future use TBD. It is one of only two rock gardens left in Minnesota.
This park was a popular feature in St. Louis Park.
One of only three remaining Lilac Way parks.
One of only two rock gardens left in Minnesota.
A sister park to renewed Lilac Park.
Rock Island was built in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project to provide employment during the Great Depression.
It has an oval pool, a 10′ footbridge to an island and handcrafted curved stone bench with stone pathways. Map.
The rare beehive fireplace from the south end of old Lilac Park was saved from demolition and renovated in a new Lilac Park.
Rock Island Park news
Browse the photo albums.
VIEW ROCK ISLAND’S ROCK GARDEN AND OPEN SPACES, SEPTEMBER 2021
BROWSE ALL ROCK ISLAND PHOTO ALBUMS
A favorite spot for residents, this green space may support native pollinators in decline, such as native rusty patch bumblebee and monarch butterflies, which have been identified nearby.
Take a virtual walk through the park.
Rock Island Park, July 5, 2022. Walk through meadow and rock garden.
Rock Island, Sept. 8, 2021. View of the park open green space. The rock garden is located next to the trees.
This park is native habitat for plants and creatures, including insects, birds, deer, and wild turkeys.
Visit, you’ll be glad you did. It’s like going back in time.
It’s on Google maps. This treasured historic 1930s park is safely hidden behind a sound wall in the NE corner of Highway 100 and Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
You can’t see Rock Island from the street, it is lower than street level.
Walk towards the clump of trees near sound wall. You will see a mowed path, and come up to a small stairway that leads you down into the rock garden.
Why was Rock Island nicknamed ‘Monkey Island’?
Rock Island used to be the north end of the old Lilac Park. Its pond, island, footbridge, bench and pathways are all that remains of the old park.
In the 1930s, the WPA built seven parks along Lilac Way, as well as ‘Monkey Island’ at the Como Park Zoo. Rock Island’s nickname comes from Como Park’s ‘Monkey Island,’ which was renamed ‘Seal Island’ in the 1980s.
Rock Island’s key dates
- In 1968 the original Lilac Park was split in two by a highway on-ramp, and Lilac Park activities were reduced
- the park could no longer be accessed from the highway
- the grade from Toledo Ave. was steep and difficult to walk down
- the rock garden that was north of the beehive fireplace and picnic area was cut off from the rest of the park
- In 2008, the 1939 beehive fireplace and picnic tables were saved, and moved to a revitalized Lilac Way park on Highways 100 and 7, which was renamed Lilac Park
- In July 2009, a crew mistakenly cut down all the trees that hid this park, making it visible to traffic on Highway 100
- In 2017, Rock Island was again hidden, when a new sound wall was installed along Highway 100
Historical info
- One of seven original Lilac Way parks
- Designed by Arthur Nichols, Landscape Architect
- Built by Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of one of Minnesota’s largest federal relief projects, 1934-1941
- Handcrafted by unemployed men during Great Depression
- Significant in the state’s history of transportation
- Determined ineligible for National Register status
What did the WPA build in the rock garden section of the old Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard in 1939?
Oval pool, island and path, Rock Island
- Near north end of site
- Elaborate rock garden is hidden by sound wall
- Built of tan, mortared limestone rubble
- Oval-shaped pool lined with stones and encircled by a flagstone path
- In the center is an island (about 18-20′ in diameter) ringed with tan limestone rubble
- A willow tree grew out of island
- A 10′-long footbridge, comprised of two slabs of limestone on limestone piers, leads to island from east side
- South end of pool had a waterfall made of mortared rocks
- Curving limestone steps climbing the back of the waterfall
- Curving paths are paved with flagstone
- Lower path encircling pool is edged with low, stone retaining walls
- Another path, which runs at a higher elevation along the eastern side of the island, is lined with stones that are set so the triangular ends point upward
- Was separated from the rest of the park circa 1968 by the exit ramp from northbound Highway 100 to Minnetonka Boulevard which cuts through the park near north end
- Remains today, needs preservation
Bench, Rock Island (also known as Hidden Park or Monkey Island)
- Small niche east of waterfall contains an L-shaped stone bench with a 2′-tall backrest
- Remains today, needs preservation
Steps, Rock Island (also known as Hidden Park or Monkey Island)
- Two sets of 5-6 stone steps lead down into Rock Island from southeast and southwest corners
- Side railings of small mortared rocks
- Remains today, needs preservation
Low stone wall, sections
- Not part of original Rock Island area
- Was formerly located in south picnic area, near point where 29th Street meets Toledo Avenue
- Thanks to Diane Steen-Hinderlie, MnDOT saved some sections from destruction and moved to the north Rock Island area after south picnic area of park was removed for Highway 100 road construction project
- 18″ thick
- Built of tan, random ashlar, rock-faced limestone
- Saved sections need preservation
Read MnDOT’s 1964 Wayside Rest Area Inventory (JPG) for the original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard.
Read MnDOT’s 1997 Historic Roadside Development Structures Inventories (PDF) for the original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard.