Don’t miss Rock Island announcements, preservation updates and events.

This Depression-era rock garden is all that remains of the now-lost old Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard. Located in St. Louis Park, MN, it is owned by MnDOT.

Community volunteer efforts are growing to help MnDOT preserve this piece of Lilac Way history. Map

Join the “Say Yes to Rock Island Park” virtual rally!

October 15, 2021. A sister park to restored Lilac Park, Lilac Way’s historic Rock Island park is facing a critical decision: preservation as a public park, or sale to a private developer. On Sept. 30th, 2021 MnDOT offered the land to the City of St. Louis Park for free, with right of first refusal. Join…

SLP Residents: Urge Mayor and City Council to accept MnDOT offer of free historic Rock Island park, save from development

Lilac Way’s historic Rock Island park is facing a critical decision: preservation as a public park, or sale to a private developer. We need help from St. Louis Park residents. Learn the facts, then scroll down to email the City with just one click. MnDOT is evaluating options to designate Rock Island park as Surplus Property. If…

MnDOT may designate Rock Island and surrounding land as Surplus Property; City of St. Louis Park will get first right of refusal

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,…

St. Louis Park benefits from Rock Island’s flourishing open green space

September 9, 2021. Lilac Way’s rare Rock Island park in St. Louis Park, MN is surrounded by lovely wide open green space. This open urban oasis is a habitat for many native plants and creatures, including insects, birds, deer, and wild turkeys. A favorite nature spot for residents, it may support native pollinators in decline,…

Take your own Lilac Way tour—three parks, eight miles, no entrance fees.

A summer 2021 Lilac Way tour is the perfect escape, and it’s free! Stop in at Graeser Park, Rock Island and restored Lilac Park—all located on an 8-mile stretch of Highway 100. Bring a lunch, family and friends, and see the heroic preservation efforts of dedicated volunteers and MnDOT. These three Insta-worthy historic Depression-era parks…

Rock Island cleared of invasive trees and shrubs, MnDOT proposes more improvements

April 9, 2021. Rock Island has a dramatic new look! This historic Lilac Way park hasn’t seen this much action in decades. After marking protected trees and shrubs with blue ribbons, MnDOT removed diseased, damaged and invasive trees and shrubs in late March 2021. Thanks to Historic Roadside Property Program (HRPP) Manager Andrea Weber for…

Rock Island: MnDOT removing diseased, damaged and invasive trees and shrubs in March 2021

Rock Island will be getting some well-deserved TLC from MnDOT starting March 22-26. Invasive plants and trees are causing damage to the historic stone structures and deterring growth of quality plantings in Rock Island. Built during the Great Depression, it is all that remains of the original Lilac Park near Minnetonka Boulevard and Highway 100.…

Rock Island needs a sponsor for MnDOT’s Highway Sponsorship Program

11.26.20. Civic groups, non-profits, businesses and individuals are urged to consider sponsorship of Rock Island. Raise the profile of your group by supporting a beloved St. Louis Park historic WPA-built wayside park. This rare Depression-era Lilac Way rock garden is all that remains of the now-lost original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard.

MnDOT plans Rock Island cleanup and stone repair in 2020-21

Great news—MnDOT’s Historic Roadside Property Program has scheduled a cleanup project for this 1939 Lilac Way park. Funding was allocated in response to park supporters After speaking with Rock Island supporters and learning of increased community interest, Historic Roadside Property Program (HRPP) Manager Andrea Weber dedicated funding to improve St. Louis Park’s Rock Island. MnDOT…

Lilac Way featured in new video by historian Joanna Dowling

7.26.20. Exciting news! Our own Lilac Way is featured in historian Joanna Dowling’s new “Along The Way: Midwest Waysides and Rest Stops” video. This well-written and researched film documents the places we stop when we are on the way to somewhere else. Scroll down to watch video The Lilac Way section starts at about 9:00,…

A touching Lilac Way story that inspires this project

Jan. 1, 2020. When the restorelilacway.com website re-launched in May 2018, it included a new Lilac Way stories section. Now I’ve collected many interesting memories from Lilac Way visitors. This latest story from Ed Stately is my favorite so far. He saw a Restore Lilac Way Facebook post with a beehive fireplace, and his memories…

Rock Island Cleanup Day – May 2019

May 6, 2019. An amazing, hard-working crew showed up for the first Rock Island Cleanup Day on May 4, 2019. So much work was done in just three hours.