Today, most streets and squares in cities bear names based on traditional field names and special geographical or natural features. At the same time, however, there are also many names that have emerged from the local historical development of cities and history in general. These may include names and designations that are linked to the political and ideological influence of National Socialist rule in the Third Reich and which, from today's perspective, must be critically reviewed. Across Germany, such street names have repeatedly been the subject of public controversy in political bodies, including in Mainz.

Based on a motion, the Mainz City Council decided in the summer of 2011 to form a working group to review historically controversial street names and was tasked with submitting proposals to the local advisory councils and the city council on how to deal with controversial street and square names. Possible solutions included adding supplementary information about former street names before they were renamed under Nazi influence, returning to names from before 1933, or assigning new street names that were not historically controversial.

The working group, which began its work with its constituent meeting in February 2012, consisted of the cultural policy spokespersons of the city council factions represented on the culture committee, representatives of the Department of Construction, Monument Preservation, and Culture, the city archives, the monument preservation department of the building authority, and the culture department. Several Mainz historians were also consulted as external experts.

After preliminary research by the city administration, 148 streets named after individuals were identified for the working group to review and, if necessary, rename. Based on discussions and votes within the working group, this list was gradually reduced to include only those names that could not be clearly associated with National Socialism.

As the first critical case, on the recommendation of the working group and by resolution of the city council in 2012, Poppelreuterstraße in Mainz's Oberstadt, named after the neurologist and avowed NSDAP member Walther Poppelreuter, was renamed "Im Sommergarten" (In the Summer Garden).

The final report of the "Historical Street Names" working group was submitted to the culture committee and the city council for information in February 2020.