Donor Who Gave $2 Million To Kentucky Park Sues After Learning Playground Was Not Named After Her Son

A Texas philanthropist has revenge a suit against a backstage parkland successful Kentucky, demanding nan return of $800,000 aft alleging that developers collapsed a aid statement regarding nan naming authorities of a h2o feature.

Susan Naylor, president of nan Will Smith Foundation, sued Lexington’s Gatton Park connected nan Town Branch for breach of contract, nan Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Naylor had pledged $2 cardinal to nan task successful representation of her son, William Naylor Smith, but claims nan parkland grounded to decently admit nan gift. Will Smith died successful a car mishap astatine nan property of 8.

Multiple areas of nan parkland grant awesome contributors, but nan h2o attraction is presently branded simply arsenic “Waterplay.”

According to tribunal documents seen by nan newspaper, nan first statement stipulated that signage astatine nan characteristic would read: “Thanks to Susan Naylor, connected behalf of her boy William Naylor Smith.” The statement besides required nan parkland committee to consult pinch Naylor connected nan show earlier installation.

Although nan parkland announced successful June 2023 that nan attraction would carnivore Smith’s name, nan suit alleges nan last building wholly omits it. Naylor claims an early type of nan motion did see nan requested dedication, but it was “hastily painted complete and covered” soon aft installation.

Court exhibits reported by nan Herald-Leader show that clash grew earlier nan parkland opened, pinch Naylor expressing disappointment complete nan creation and her removal from awesome events, including nan park’s groundbreaking ceremony.

In a May 27, 2025, email to parkland officials, Naylor wrote: “It would person been bully for nan magnitude we were asked for to person travel up pinch a clever name, different than ‘water play.’ And nan signage is very bland.”

She concluded nan email by requesting a refund.

Gatton Park has refused to return nan funds, pointing to a clause successful nan statement stating that immoderate “installment paid toward this promise is irrevocable and non-refundable.”

Naylor has paid 2 of her 5 scheduled $400,000 installments but missed nan 2025 deadline. The statement allows nan parkland to revoke naming authorities if a philanthropist defaults connected payments.

Park officials declare nan signage followed a strict azygous creation to support ocular consistency.

In a June 2025 email revenge pinch nan suit, Gatton Park CEO Allison Lankford attempted to schedule a solution meeting, penning to Naylor: “I want to beryllium judge your sound is heard and your intentions are afloat reflected arsenic we move forward.”

Gatton Park told nan Herald-Leader it has “fully complied pinch its commitments successful relationship pinch her donation.”