Plymouth is the new owner of County Road 47, and the west metro suburb has big plans to upgrade the century-old road it inherited from Hennepin County in November.
The city wants to make the winding and hilly two-lane road that cuts 4 miles across the northern part of the city driver-friendly and safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. But first things first. The road needs a new name.
Last week, the city put out the call for suggestions and will accept them through Thursday.
"Renaming a road is not common," said city spokeswoman Emily Kastner. "The City Council wanted a fun way to engage the community and collect ideas."
Early submissions include calling it City Road 47 or Hackamore Road, which is what County 47 is named in neighboring Medina. A few ideas include Trumpeter Way, Deer Run or Sandhill Road due to abundant nature often seen along the route. Others are more light-hearted and whimsical, such as Roady McRoadface and the Norwegian phrase "Uffda."
A group working on Plymouth's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts want to acknowledge the first Native Americans to own land around Parkers and Medicine lakes. The group put forth the Dakota name Ohiyesa (O-he-yes-a) Trail after consulting Dakota elder Syd Beane, a longtime city resident. Ohiyesa in Dakota means winner.
"Everybody likes to be a winner," said Beane, a Flandreau Santee Sioux. "It would have a positive name. People would understand the history behind the name and how it relates to the area."
Beane's great-grandfather was the older brother and mentor to Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa), who was a naturalist, environmentalist, celebrated author and one of the first Native American doctors.
