“Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway”

A seven-mile section of Minnesota State Highway 5 will be renamed after Prince. The road runs past his former home and office, Paisley Park, and on through the Minneapolis suburbs of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie. It will be called “Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway” and the road signs will be purple instead of the classic brown.

In 1987, Prince opened Paisley Park, a 65,000-square-foot recording studio and estate in the Twin Cities suburb of Chanhassen. He later began living in the complex, which after his death in 2016 was turned into a museum celebrating his life and career.

“Prince was a true genius, a visionary artist who pushed the boundaries of music and cultures in a way that will never be forgotten,” said Republican Senator Julia Coleman, lead sponsor of the name change. “His influence can be heard in the work of countless musicians who have come after him, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists today.”

His fans have campaigned for years for his work to be recognized by highway signs in the city he called home during those years. “Prince never asked anyone for anything,” Mark Webster, a friend of the singer who is spearheading efforts to create a memorial to his life, told reporters Thursday. “I think this is one of the greatest gifts we give him.”

According to the senator, Prince’s friends and family will pay for any costs associated with the name change. The bill now only needs to be signed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is expected to approve the change.