More Restoration Underway at Robbinsdale’s Graeser Park
Volunteers, who were instrumental in unearthing Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, were ecstatic to see crews power washing the “beehive” fireplace and replacing stones this week.
The stone pads and vintage picnic tables and benches will eventually be reset in the park.
A Park with History
Federal WPA workers and stone masons built seven roadside parks long a 12-mile stretch of the new Highway 100, which was also known as Lilac Way. Over time, the parks disappeared due to progress or neglect.
Volunteers gradually started digging up and discovering old parts of the park, and workers funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Historic Roadside Property Program are repairing and rebuilding some of the park’s features.
This summer, some of those workers rebuilt some of the stone tables.
As work continues into the fall, volunteers expect additional stone work to be completed. Repairs are underway on the beehive fireplace, which is believed to be the only one in the U.S. still in its original location.
Additional work will be completed on the park next spring, with an anticipated mid-June completion date. Future preservation projects include improving access for pedestrians and people with disabilities.
See also: Volunteers Lead Efforts to Restore Robbinsdale’s Graeser Park
