Thanks to community support, this volunteer project has seen the restoration of Graeser Park (now eligible for Nat'l Reg. of Historic Places), protection of Rock Island Park and love for revitalized Lilac Park - Karen Laukkonen, Founder and Creative Director #restorelilacway #minneapolis #MN #MnDOT
Designed by famed landscape architect Arthur Nichols, Lilac Way included 7 roadside parks, 7,000 lilacs of 12 varieties and thousands of shrubs, trees. Based on NPS's 1930s ‘Rustic’ style, three parks and many lilacs remain today. #landscapedesign #arthurnichols #restorelilacway #minneapolis #lilacs
Revitalized in 2009 by the city of St. Louis Park, MN, Lilac Park is a fave destination of bikers and picnickers. The rare 1930s beehive fireplace was moved here to save it from destruction and the 100′ lilac hedge blooms every May! #lilacs #lilacpark #restorelilacway #stlouispark #bikeminneapolis
Highway 100's Lilac Way was a Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration projects. The WPA hired unemployed workers to build seven roadside parks during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Nearly 1 in 3 Minnesotans were out of work. #restorelilacway #minneapolis #minnesota #lilacs #landscapedesign
Beehive-shaped fireplace from 1930s has three openings for grilling at picnics.
Quirky beehive fireplaces are unique to Minneapolis' Lilac Way. Two of seven 1930s WPA-built roadside parks remain, Graeser Park's restored beehive is now eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Thanks, MnDOT! #beehivefireplaces #restorelilacway #lilacs #MnDOT #minneapolis #minnesota
It's been a weird year for lilacs. I had blooms in late October in Zone 4 of Minneapolis, probably brought on by fungus. That is def not supposed to happen. Zone 6 had lilacs blooming in November. Hoping spring blooms are not affected. #lilacs #restorelilacway
