Graeser Park is a jewel in Robbinsdale’s crown, a beautiful roadside rest area that was very popular from the 1940s to the ’70s. It was a place where friends gathered, families had reunions, scouts held meetings, and passersby stopped to admire the scenery.
By the 1980s, however, the park became forlorn and mostly forgotten. After years of overgrowth, the rock garden was almost lost forever.
Then in 2008, the Robbinsdale Lions took notice. Lions volunteers began uncovering the paths and rock formations, doggedly removing weeds, dirt, litter, and years of neglect.
Now the park has returned to its former glory. Thanks to a three-year historic preservation project completed by the MnDOT in 2023, ten original stone picnic tables have been rebuilt, the rock garden has been cleaned and stabilized, and the beloved “beehive” fireplace has been restored.
To protect the beehive for future generations, the fireboxes are covered with wire grates, meaning no more wiener roasts…just a gorgeous park for everyone to explore and enjoy in every season of the year!
