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Metro Council goes on record recognizing renaming of Cumberland Park as Waseoto Park
Summary
The Metro Council on March 4 adopted a resolution recognizing the renaming of Cumberland Park to Waseoto Park, citing Indigenous community leadership and public input. The resolution notes prior approval by the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation and records community support.
The Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County on March 4 went on record recognizing the renaming of Cumberland Park as Waseoto Park, sponsor Council Member Zulfat Zorua said.
The resolution (RS2025-1002) cites a recommendation from the Indigenous Peoples Coalition, chaired by Albert Bender, and notes that the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation unanimously approved the name change on Dec. 3, 2024. The parks department solicited public input for 30 days; the record cited in the resolution shows 236 votes submitted, 208 in favor.
The resolution text, as presented to the Council, says the new name—rendered in the resolution as Waseoto Park—recognizes the Suwannee name for the Cumberland River and “the ancient and contemporary contributions of indigenous people.” The resolution lists supporters including the Indigenous Peoples Coalition, the Wilco powwow, the Native American Indian Association, the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Global Education Center.
Albert Bender is identified in the resolution as chair of the Indigenous Peoples Coalition and as a lead community advocate for the renaming request, which the resolution says was first submitted to the parks board in July. The parks board’s Dec. 3 action is recorded in the resolution as unanimous; the council record shows the Council went on record in support at its March 4 meeting.
“I'm very gratified at this resolution passing,” said Mr. Kennethon, a resident who addressed the Council after the resolution's approval. Kennethon also used his remarks to ask the mayor’s office for information about archaeological work at the new Titans stadium, a separate matter he said he has raised previously and requested a response on.
The resolution includes a standard effective clause stating it takes effect upon adoption. It also contains a written land acknowledgement presented at the meeting naming several Indigenous peoples tied to the area and the treaty referenced in the resolution (referred to in the transcript as the “open world treaty of 1765”). The transcript includes variations in spellings of the park name and related terms; the Council text records the name as Waseoto Park.
No formal roll-call vote tally for the Council’s action appears in the public transcript excerpt provided; the transcript records that the resolution was presented and referred to as passed. The mover, seconder and specific council vote tallies were not specified in the transcript provided.
