Minnesota is set to honor the legacy of Prince, the legendary musician who hailed from the state, by naming a seven-mile stretch of Highway 5 in Chanhassen and Eden Prairie after him.
As part of the bill, HF 717, the signs designating the highway will be colored purple, the iconic hue long associated with the musician. The signs are expected to be installed this summer.
The legislation, authored by Rep. Lucy Rehm (DFL-48B, Chanhassen), passed on Friday, coinciding with the seventh anniversary of Prince’s death. Highway 5 from Highway 41 in Chanhassen to Mitchell Road in Eden Prairie will be designated the “Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway.”
“It’s a tremendous privilege to work with Minnesotans and all the advocates to recognize and honor Prince’s contributions to our state, our country, and the world,” Rehm said.
For nearly three decades, Prince called Chanhassen home. Today, his former residence and recording studio, Paisley Park, located at the corner of Highway 5 and Audubon Road, has become a pilgrimage site for his fans worldwide.
“Prince meant a lot to many people and was a good steward of our arts and culture here in Minnesota,” said Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-49B, Eden Prairie), a co-sponsor of the bill. “It was easy for me to support an effort to memorialize him, especially since part of the seven-mile stretch runs through Eden Prairie.”
Kotyza-Witthuhn commended Rehm for collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Committee to promote the bill, which she noted passed the House unanimously Friday with bipartisan support.
The bill’s companion, SF 279, is currently making its way through the Senate and is expected to be signed by Gov. Tim Walz before the Minnesota Legislature is constitutionally required to adjourn on May 22.
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