Cumberland Park renamed Wasioto Park

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Cumberland Park has a new name.

Nashville’s Metro Parks Board unanimously voted on Tuesday to rename the park to Wasioto Park. In a press release, the Metro Parks Board said Wasioto is the original Shawnee name of the Cumberland River. The Naming Committee met prior to the board meeting and unanimously recommended the name change.

Tuesday’s unanimous vote came after months of advocacy by several Nashville residents and public feedback. Board member Monique Odom noted the costs associated with the renaming of the park shall be borne by the requesting organization, including costs associated with updated signage.

Albert Bender, chairperson for the Indigenous Peoples Coalition Nashville, spoke during the public comment period before the board’s vote.

“There has been some considerable rancor on the part of the Indigenous community at how this process has proceeded,” Bender said. “But without me going into details on that, I would just say that in light of the recommendation of the naming committee in favor of the name change, I would advocate that the Parks Board act accordingly.”

The parks department solicited public input for the park’s name change. They received 236 votes, with 88% of those votes being in favor of the name change. They received that input via phone, letters, email and in-person responses over a 30-day period.

Board member Edward Henley III noted at the meeting the footprint of the park would be impacted by Nashville’s East Bank development plan, including impacts to construction and infrastructure.

“I think it’s extremely exciting that the park is being renamed,” Henley added. “I think it’s extremely exciting that the East Bank is getting its vision brought to life and will have Wasioto as the name of the park that sits inside that footprint.”

Metro Parks said the name change has immediately gone into effect.