Twin Cities Highway Will Be Named After Prince

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Senate on Thursday passed a bill naming a stretch of Highway 5 in Chanhassen the "Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway." The bill specifies the signs designating the highway to be purple.

Prince, a Minnesota native who pioneered the "Minneapolis sound" genre and went on to become a global superstar, died on April 21, 2016, of a drug overdose. He was 57.

Purple signs will be erected along a seven-mile stretch of Minnesota Highway 5 through Eden Prairie and Chanhassen.

Prince lived and recorded music at his Chanhassen home — Paisley Park — for nearly 30 years. Paisley Park is now open to the public and welcomes fans for tours, concerts, festivals, and other special events.

“Prince was a true genius, a visionary artist who pushed the boundaries of music and cultures in ways that will never be forgotten," Sen. Julia Coleman, of Waconia, said on the Senate floor Thursday.

"His influence can be heard in the work of countless musicians who came after him, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists to this day."

Prince's family and friends are paying for the costs associated with the new highway name.

"Prince brought people together not only through his music, but through his advocacy of public library access, education, civil rights, and more," said Rep. Lucy Rehm, the House author, after her bill passed the House Transportation Committee last month.

"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."

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.