Minnetonka Boulevard - City of St. Louis Park

MI NESOTA
Minnetonka Park Mall - 1960
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
Texa-Tonka Shopping Center - 1960
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
Lilac Park
• Built as part of a series of parks through the WPA by local stonemasons
• Unique stone “beehive” fireplaces were constructed for use by park-goers.
- One remains intact today.
Image: NPS
Minnetonka Park Mall - 2007
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
Texa-Tonka Shopping Center - 2008
• In 1896, Minnetonka Boulevard was a narrow bicycle path.
• In July of 1913, Charles M. Loring requested permission to plant
elm trees on Minnetonka Boulevard from Minneapolis to Lake
Minnetonka.
• In 1913, the railroad bridge at Brunswick Avenue was built (rebuilt
in 2008).
• Minnetonka Boulevard was paved in 1952.
•The bridge at Minnetonka Boulevard and Aquila was built in 1960,
and rebuilt in 2007.
• In 2009, a campaign to restore Lilac Way (Hwy. 100) will begin by
asking individuals & businesses to sponsor lilac shrubs to be planted
throughout the corridor.
Highway 100 Roadside Parks
• Structures fashioned from limestone cut along the Minnesota River
• Due to highway expansion projects over the years, most structures have been removed.
However, pieces of the stone have been retained by MNDOT.
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
Campaign graphics: Window sticker
the C AmPAign to restore LiLAC WAy
10
Texa-Tonka Lanes - 1960
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
PROUD SUPPORTER of
100
Texa-Tonka Lanes - 2007
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
www.restorelilacway.com
© 2008 Laukkonen Design—Idea-oriented. Super-organized. Deadline-sensitive. www.laukkonen.com
7.20.08
Remaining Beehive Fireplace - Lilac Park
Image: St. Louis Park Historical Society
Removed Stone - MNDOT Graveyard
Image: www.restorelilacway.com
Related St. Louis Park History
M i n n e t o n k a B o u l e v a r d ( C o . R o a d 5 )
D e s i g n P l a n
October, 2008