Graeser Park Preservation Construction Returns

Construction crews started work this week on preservation and repair work at Graeser Park in Robbinsdale.

Community volunteers have been active for a few years, digging and unearthing the Depression-era roadside park. MnDOT started work on preservation in 2020.

Photo of Graeser Park in 1930s.

This year’s project includes completing 10 picnic tables, beehive restoration and repairing erosion on the east end of the rock garden. The beehive will look a little different. Families will not be able to light fires inside the structure like they did decades ago.

“The problem in the past is that people built fires in there that were too big and the fires were too hot and they damaged the stones,” explained Robbinsdale City Manager Marcia Glick in an update to the city council. “To be sure that nobody is going to have fires in there, of course you can’t let little fires happen unless big fires are possible. So they are going to be installing heavy-woven wire panels closing off fire of openings.”

The beehive will look different than the restored beehive in St. Louis Park.

Work is supposed to be finished in June.

Next year, crews will be back for additional work on accessibility and safety at Graeser Park.

You can keep up with the project here.

Robbinsdale