Bid to rename Birmingham park raises debate over history

Former Birmingham City Councilman John Katopodis has proposed changing the name of Caldwell Park, which honors a key figure in the founding of Birmingham who also was an officer in the Confederate Army and a slave owner.

Katopodis wants the park named after former City Councilwoman Nina Miglionico, a social progressive who was elected to the council after the old commission form of city government was changed during the racial turmoil in 1963. She served for more than two decades.

The park in Southside is named after Dr. Henry Caldwell, who designed Highland Avenue and was president of the Elyton Land Co., which settled much of the city. But Katopodis said Caldwell's slave-owning history cannot be overlooked.

"I cannot see this government retaining that name without a lot of pain associated with it because I don't think the community would stand for it," he said.