Tucson approves renaming of local park to honor local Tohono O'odham elder
Tucson's Mayor and Council approved renaming Christopher Columbus Park to Danny Lopez Park Wednesday in honor of the Tohono O'odham educator and elder who dedicated his life to preserving the Tohono O'odham language and culture.
In a September 2024 letter to Lara Hamwey, director of Tucson Parks and Recreation, supporters of renaming the park in honor of Lopez stated that the change would be "a step toward reconciliation and healing."
The signatures that supported the name change included Lopez's wife and daughter, the Tucson Native Youth Council, and a handful of community members and leaders.
The following month, Tucson Parks and Recreation responded to the proposal by announcing a 45-day public comment period, allowing community members to share input on the name change.
As of Feb. 19, 2025, the renaming proposal was approved by the city.
Danny Lopez was a revered and beloved Tohono O'odham elder and educator in the Tucson community. He was a traditional singer, storyteller, and educator of Tohono O'odham culture.
Over his 30-year teaching career, from primary school to college, he taught Himdag to hundreds of Tohono O'odham Nation members.
In 2005, he was named the recipient of the Spirit of the Heard award, given by the Heard Museum to southwest tribal members who demonstrate personal excellence and community leadership.
Lopez was born in the village of Ge Oidag (Big Field). He graduated from St. John's Indian School and joined the Marine Corps. He worked in mining while attending night classes on his way to becoming a Language and Culture Instructor at Tohono O'odham Community College.
Though he died in 2008, his community impact continued.
The history of the Tohono O'odham people predates the formation of the United States and the Republic of Mexico.
The O'odham inhabited an enormous area of land in the southwest, extending South to Sonora, Mexico, north to Central Arizona (just north of Phoenix, Arizona), west to the Gulf of California, and east to the San Pedro River. The land was called Papagueria and it was home to the O'odham for thousands of years, according to O'odham history.
The Gadsen Purchase impacted the Tohono O'odham through the loss of land and an implementation of the U.S.-Mexico border that divided their people.
O'odham bands are now broken up into four federally recognized tribes: the Tohono O'odham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Salt River (Pima Maricopa) Indian community.
Originally named Silverbell Park, the site was renamed Christopher Columbus Park in 1990 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas.
The Tucson chapter of the Knights of Columbus led the renaming effort, aiming to honor the explorer as part of the international celebration.
Azul Navarrete-Valera, former co-president of the Tucson Native Youth Council, expressed that previously named Christopher Columbus Park "glorifies a man whose actions perpetuated the mass genocide, abuse, and oppression of Indigenous peoples."
Honoring the shift of perspective on history and cultural representation, the park was renamed again to honor Lopez and his impact on the local community.
The name change received strong community backing, including support from Tucson council members Lane Santa Cruz and Kevin Dahl, who are reportedly funding the $10,000 cost to update the park's signage.
In the coming months, park signage and other online references will be updated to reflect the new name. Residents can expect more details soon about a formal dedication ceremony to celebrate this milestone, Tucson Parks and Recreation, said.
The park's new name, Danny Lopez Park, stands as a testament to the importance of honoring local Indigenous leaders and their contributions to cultural preservation and education, Tucson Parks and Recreation said.
Reporter Olivia Rose contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson's Christopher Columbus Park is now Danny Lopez Park. Here's why
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