Here’s what you need to know.
Why was this council vote so important?
- MnDOT designated Rock Island Park’s two parcels as ‘surplus’ land, wanted to relinquish ownership.
- If the city had not accepted MnDOT’s offer, the land would have been sold to a developer, and the historic rock garden destroyed.
- Rock Island is all that remains of old Lilac Park, one of seven Lilac Way parks built along Highway 100.
- These rare 1930s stone structures were built as one of MN’s largest Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects to provide jobs during Great Depression.
- The south parcel contains one of only two rock gardens left in Minnesota.
- The community supported preservation of the park through a successful email campaign, yard signs and “Say YES to Rock Island Park” virtual rally.
Resolution One: South parcel with rock garden
- This critical YES vote saved Rock Island Park’s historic rock garden from development; if the city had voted against the resolution, MnDOT would have sold the surplus land to a developer.
- MnDOT offered the land for $0, which requires the city use it for park purposes.
- The rock garden will now be added to SLP’s park system, becoming a ‘sister park’ to renewed Lilac Park near Nordic Ware.
Resolution Two: North parcel with meadow, deer, wild turkeys, native plants and original 1930s lilac hedge
- This critical YES vote allows the city to buy the north parcel from MnDOT for fair market value of $187,000.
- The offer letter does not appear to include any restrictions on the use.
- In addition to the $187,000 cost to acquire the north parcel from MnDOT, the city would incur administrative and property maintenance costs.
- Funds for the purchase will come from the development fund.
Important note about the north parcel
Staff anticipates this parcel will be maintained as-is until there is public process with the community and council direction on future land use. This is good news – Restore Lilac Way will continue to rally the community, encouraging the city to maintain the land as park land and keeping the two parcels together.
Key info
- The two parcels of land are near 28th and Toledo Avenue South.
- The south parcel is 0.88 acres and includes the area now known as Rock Island Park, one of only two rock gardens remaining in MN. (The other rock garden is in Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, MN.) MnDOT offered to give the land to the city for $0, requiring the city use it for park purposes.
- The north parcel is 0.81 acres, MnDOT offered to sell the north parcel to the city for fair market value of $187,000, the offer letter does not appear to include any use restrictions.
- In addition to the $187,000 cost to acquire the north parcel from MnDOT, the city would incur administrative costs and costs to maintain the property.
- Funds for the purchase will come from the development fund.
MnDOT divided Rock Island Park into two separate land parcels.
One of only three remaining Lilac Way parks.
One of only two rock gardens left in Minnesota.
A sister park to restored Lilac Park.
Rock Island is all that remains of the old Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard and Highway 100 in St. Louis Park. It 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. Locals often called it Monkey Island. Map.
The rare beehive fireplace from the south end of old Lilac Park was saved from demolition and restored in a new Lilac Park.
Rock Island Updates
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, Sept. 8, 2021. View of the park open green space. The rock garden is located next to the trees.
Rock Island, Sept. 8, 2021. Overlooking the rock garden and open green space, looking south.
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.
A dedicated group of volunteers worked diligently to preserve Lilac Way’s 1939 Rock Island Park. We are thrilled the City voted to save this piece of history.
If you’re on Facebook, follow Rock Island SLP for updates.
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 restored 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.