Portland Park Renaming Faces Community Backlash
Why this is here: The renaming process took nearly a decade from the initial call for change in 2017, prompting one activist to criticize the timeline as a “mockery” given the swift renaming of another Portland plaza.
Portland Parks & Recreation recently renamed Custer Park to Scht Wiwnu, meaning “path of the huckleberry” in Ichishkin Sńwit. The renaming followed a five-and-a-half-year process costing nearly $20,000. Some residents are unhappy with the new name, citing its difficult pronunciation and potential for misinterpretation.
Concerns also arose regarding the original naming of the park. Some believe it was named for a local Swiss dairy farmer, not General George Armstrong Custer. City records show the land was purchased from the Raz family in the 1950s, but the park likely took its name from nearby Southwest Custer Street.
Activists involved in the renaming process express frustration with the length of time it took. One activist began campaigning for a name change in 2017. The parks bureau released a video to help with pronunciation of the new name.