A Lilac Way Park, Restored    Mn/DOT’s Partnership    The Inspiration    Beehives & Parks    Beehive History    Beehive Graveyard    News    Thanks    Tell us your story

A Lilac Way park was beautifully restored for the 70th Anniversary of Lilac Way.

Campaign Director Karen, Laukkonen Design, designed the graphics for the large system kiosk and smaller trail signage for Lilac Park.

The City of SLP:

  1. •Moved beehive fireplace & picnic table from Mtka. Blvd.

  2. •Restored five tables, a beehive and council ring.

  3. •Created patterned cement bases for structures.

  4. •Built three features with block from dismantled park structures.

  5. •Installed SW Regional Trail connection. 

  6. •Landscaping based on original plan.

  7. •Resurfaced circular internal biking/walking trail.

  8. •Designed and implemented interpretive park and trail signage.

Mayor Jeff Jacobs officially welcomed the community to this restored Lilac Way park On July 13, 2009. Carefully renovated by the City of St. Louis Park and the SLP Historical Wayside Park/Beehive Restoration Project committee, Lilac Park is again part of history.

SLP used to have three Lilac Way parks - Excelsior, Lilac and Roadside.

  1. • Excelsior Park was lost to road construction

  2. • The beehive and table from the original Lilac Park at Minnetonka Boulevard were moved to Roadside Park

  3. • Roadside Park was renovated and renamed Lilac Park.

See photos of the grand opening and the renovation. Watch a 5-minute video about moving the beehive and a short clip from the Lilac Park Grand Opening. See the original TPT & Mn/DOT video here. Or get your every own ‘beehive’ cake pan from Nordic Ware.

Rick Birno, Parks & Rec Dept. and the SLP Historical Wayside Park/Beehive Restoration Project worked for two years to restore this park.

Click on the map at left for location.

Congratulations to the Beehive Committee and the City of SLP!

Kathy Johnson, Jeanne Andersen, Bob Jorvig, Bob and Barbara Reiss of the St. Louis Park Historical Society

Bruce Cornwall, Resident/Park Commissioner

Bette Danielson, Nordic Ware

Mike McGarvey, Resident/Landscape Architect

Chris Reiss, Resident/Rotary Club

Elizabeth Walton, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Adam Fulton, Meg McMonigal and Sean Walther, City Staff - Planning

Bill Thurston and City Staff - Engineering

Jim Vaughan and Rick Birno, City Staff - Parks and Recreation