Calhoun 's legacy as a slaveowner and pro-slavery politician led critics to question whether he was the best person to be honored . In 2011 the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board ( MPRB ) visited the issue . Their legal counsel concluded that the board could not legally change the name , as state law gives that power to the Commissioner of Natural Resources , and then only in the first 40 years after the name was designated . Following the Charleston church shooting in June 2015 , a fresh drive to change the name started via an online petition and the Park Board indicated it would look into whether they could change the lake 's name through state action . At the time , the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article sharing Calhoun 's views on the black race : The number of deaf and dumb , blind , idiots and insane of the Negroes in the States that have changed the ancient relations between the races and are no longer slaves is one out of every ninety-six ; while in the States adhering to it slavery , it is one out of every six hundred and sixty-one ; being nearly six to one against the free blacks in the same state as well as his actions in ordering the flogging of one his own slaves . In fall 2015 the board added the Dakota name to signage below the official name . In March 2016 , an advisory group decided by majority vote to urge the MPRB to restore the lake 's former name . There was also a proposal to rename the lake for Senator Paul Wellstone , who is buried in nearby Lakewood Cemetery
Charleston church shooting
Charleston church shooting
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