- A Texas philanthropist, Susan Naylor, has initiated a lawsuit against Gatton Park in Kentucky, seeking the return of $800,000 after alleging a breach of a donation agreement concerning the naming rights for a water feature.
- Naylor, president of the Will Smith Foundation, had pledged $2 million to the park project in memory of her son, William Naylor Smith, who died at age eight, claiming the park failed to properly recognise her gift.
- The lawsuit alleges that despite a contract stipulating specific signage, the final water attraction, currently labelled 'Waterplay', omits her son's name, and an early version of the dedication sign was 'hastily painted over and covered'.
- Naylor expressed disappointment over the design and her exclusion from key events, requesting a refund in May 2025, which Gatton Park refused, citing a clause that donations are 'irrevocable and non-refundable'.
- Gatton Park maintains it has 'fully complied with its commitments' and that signage followed a strict uniform design, noting that Naylor missed a 2025 payment, which could allow the park to revoke naming rights.
IN FULL
