Now she gardens, obsesses over her new garden shed, hangs with life-long friends and listens to loud music and mystery podcasts.
She continues to maintain her Restore Lilac Way project. Launched in 2008, it documents the history and seven quirky roadside parks of Lilac Way.
She is proud that partnerships with local community groups and MnDOT’s Historic Roadside Properties Program have led to history-making preservation and restoration.
Decades as a Website Designer and Project Manager.
She founded Laukkonen Design in 1990, with a keen focus on both the big picture and the micro-management required by the latest tech bells and whistles.
Idea-oriented, super-organized and deadline sensitive, she is now using those skills on her pro bono Restore Lilac Way project. Launched in 2008, she has raised community profiles for these 1940 parks, and partnered with key players to restore and preserve the remaining parks.
Buy a Lilac Way poster!
Restore Lilac Way
Since first developing Restore Lilac Way in 2007, Karen has grown it into a recognizable brand. This volunteer project documents the history and supports restoration of 1939 WPA-built parks on Highway 100 in Minneapolis.
A Lilac Way enthusiast, she redesigned the website in 2018. It’s easy to navigate, mobile-ready, and promotes community involvement and restoration.
Managing this extensive civic project, she
- creates and manages content for 100+ page website
- updates restoration and preservation efforts on 70
- + page blog
- creates, edits and uploads photography for 100+ photo albums
- manages 1,400+ member Facebook group including paid ads
- promotes through multiple social media channels
- partners with key Lilac Way players, including MnDOT, historical societies, and volunteer groups