After seven years, it’s easy to bike, walk, or roll to Lilac Park in St. Louis Park again. YAY! The Kenilworth and North Cedar Lake trails have finally reopened. Now visitors can visit Lilac Park’s lilac hedge and historic 1939 beehive fireplace via key trails. Start planning to enjoy a picnic next to blooming lilacs…
Plan to visit three historic Depression-era Lilac Way parks on one short drive, and it’s free! Restored Graeser Park, protected Rock Island Park and renewed Lilac Park are all located on one short 8-mile stretch of Highway 100. Take a break for the perfect escape. Bring a lunch, family and friends, and see the heroic…
The International Lilac Society asked us to share the Lilac Way story in their quarterly journal! In late 2023, Editor Tom Gober contacted Karen Laukkonen, requesting an article for their Lilacs journal. The International Lilac Society is a group of around 300 people from around the world with a love for lilacs. After finding Restore…
Choose from four poster designs in two sizes. For you, or the Lilac Way fan in your life. Poster Shop Since launching restorelilacway.com in 2008, designer Karen Laukkonen has received many requests for Lilac Way posters. Now you can show off your favorite park, or buy a set of four posters for the price of…
UPDATE! We’ve made history. On May 1, 2023, St. Louis Park’s City Council voted YES, saving Rock Island Park’s historic rock garden from development. The city accepted the park’s south parcel from MnDOT for $0 to use as a public park, and purchased the north parcel for $187,000 with no use restrictions. The north parcel…
UPDATE! We’ve made history. On May 1, 2023, St. Louis Park’s City Council voted YES, saving Rock Island Park’s historic rock garden from development. The city accepted the park’s south parcel from MnDOT for $0 to use as a public park, and purchased the north parcel for $187,000 with no use restrictions. The north parcel…
May 8, 2021. The “Where to Live Now” May 2021 issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine featured the restored beehive fireplace in Lilac Park in St. Louis Park, MN. Their ‘Found Art’ article includes remnants of Twin Cities past that are hiding in plain site. According to writer Andy Sturdevant, “The beehive fireplace from Lilac Park, now…
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…
KSTP-TV’s Joe Mazan profiled Lilac Park’s restored beehive fireplace for their ‘So Minnesota’ series. Their ‘So Minnesota’ stories showcase the people, places and things unique to Minnesota. In December 2020, they featured the history of Lilac Way and the restored beehive fireplace in Lilac Park in St. Louis Park, MN. Joe interviewed Karen Laukkonen of…
7.6.20. Even eleven years after restoration, Lilac Park in St. Louis Park still surprises me. This Ivory Silk Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata ssp. reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’) was in full bloom in late June. Located on the east side of the park between the path and beehive fireplace, it stopped me right in my tracks.…