Rock Island Park rock garden, June 2024

06.29.2024, 7441. restorelilacway.com/ A 1939 Lilac Way park, St. Louis Park, MN • Length: 04:06. Tour Rock Island Park's rare rock garden. Built in the 1930s as one of Minnesota's largest WPA projects, it is all that remains of the old Lilac Park near Minnetonka Boulevard. Features stone structures, including a curved stone bench, waterfall wall, pond and an island. Two stairways lead down into the rock garden from the meadow. Stone paths circle the pond, and deer and turkeys wander the meadow.
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.
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Restore Lilac Way is a civic project conceived, researched, written, designed and developed pro bono by Karen Laukkonen. Maintained since 2007, all time and expenses are donated.
Its mission is to document the history and seven roadside parks of Lilac Way on Highway 100 from Robbinsdale to Edina, MN. It supports continued restoration and preservation of Graeser Park and its rare beehive fireplace, continued preservation of renewed Lilac Park and community involvement of Rock Island Park.
Branding, logos and design for Restore Lilac Way cannot be used without permission from Karen Laukkonen. Unless indicated, all photos were taken by Laukkonen Design.