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.


KARE 11 article by Allen Costantini

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.

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.

Mayor Jeff Jacobs officially welcomed the community to this restored Lilac Way park on July 13, 2009.

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, SLP Parks & Recreation 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!

  1. •Rick Birno and Jim Vaughan, City Staff - Parks and Recreation

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

  3. •Bruce Cornwall, Resident/Park Commissioner

  4. •Bette Danielson, Nordic Ware

  5. •Mike McGarvey, Resident/Landscape Architect

  6. •Chris Reiss, Resident/Rotary Club

  7. •Elizabeth Walton, Minnesota Department of Transportation

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

  9. •Bill Thurston and City Staff - Engineering


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.