ðə pˈɑːɹk bˈɛɹz ðə nˈeɪm ʌv kˈɜːnəl klˈæɹəns ˈɛs. wˈɑːdswɜːθ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn, ɐn ˌækədˈɛmɪk, lˈɪŋɡwɪst, kˌɑːnsɚvˈeɪʃənˌɪst, ænd mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk nˈæʃənəl ɡˈɑːɹd.
The park bears the name of Colonel Clarence S. Wadsworth (1871–1941), an academic, linguist, conservationist, and member of the New York National Guard.