Beloved Owensboro Park Named After Kentucky Settler Once Tried for Murder

It was a little more than 10 years ago when the Landscape Architects Network published its list of the best playgrounds in the world. Residents in my corner of the world were thrilled to learn that Owensboro's Lazy Dayz Playground was at the top of the list.

But it was only one component of the riverfront overhaul of Smothers Park, a name often ascribed to the playground itself. There's no data that I could find that tells me how many guests visit the park every year, but I'm sure the number would be off the chart.

I do wonder how many people give the park's name a thought, because it has a fascinating history.

How Smothers Park Got Its Name

William Smeathers was the first settler of Yellow Banks, which later became Owensboro, after being among the initial settlers in the Rough River area. Having built a home on the Ohio River in either 1797 or 1798 (historical records are unclear), Smeathers later became a member of the Kentucky State Militia, also known as the Kentucky Cornstalk Militia, as some members actually converted cornstalks into makeshift weapons for drills.

Read More: Watch Owensboro History Come to Life at 'Voices of Elmwood'

In 1809, he was tried for the murder of a man who allegedly had raped his sister. And although the jury returned a "not guilty" verdict, Smeathers, who was now going by William or Bill Smothers, was asked to leave the area for his own safety.

Who knew that the best playground in the world would be part of a park named after a pioneer with such a colorful history?

Well, you do, now.