Now Shields is advocating changing the name to Root River Causeway to honor the Native Americans who lived in the Racine area and named the Root River.

“We need to tell the truth about history and respect the people who were here,” said Shields. “Christopher Columbus had nothing to do with Racine, Wisconsin.”

A Journal Times article from April 13, 1991, states that the proposal was brought forward by the Racine Columbus Quincentenary Commission, which was comprised of 18 volunteers who organized a celebration of the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival to the Americas.

The group first approached the county since it owns the majority of the causeway and the marina. Once they received county approval they went to the city, which controls 4th Street from Lake Avenue until about 400 feet east of that point.

City Engineer John Rooney pointed out that on the city’s stretch of the road the name change wasn’t official but honorary so changing the name on that stretch is fairly simple.

On the county property, it may be more complicated. According to Racine County Mapbook, the properties owned by the county have Christopher Columbus Causeway as their official address.