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. How Smothers Park Got Its NameWilliam Smeathers was the first settler of Yellow Banks, which later became Owensboro, after being among the initial settlers in the Rough River area. 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. Who knew that the best playground in the world would be part of a park named after a pioneer with such a colorful history?