LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A major donor is suing officials from the non-profit that operates Gatton Park on Town Branch, alleging they violated an agreement to name its water play area after her late son in exchange for her donation.
In a suit filed last Thursday in Fayette County Circuit Court, Susan Naylor, the president of the Will Smith Foundation, alleges that Town Branch Inc. Executive Director Allison Lankford and Capital Campaign Director Ben Shaffar defrauded her of $ 800,000 and did not consult her on the signage near the play area despite agreeing to do so.
According to the lawsuit, Lankford first approached Naylor in May 2023 to solicit a donation to name the water play area after Will Smith, who died in a car accident at the age of 8 and loved the water…