LEXINGTON, Ky. — The push to bring a large outdoor park to downtown Lexington reached a major milestone Tuesday.

Town Branch Park, proposed to be built off Oliver Lewis Way and Manchester Road, received a $2 million gift to fund the park’s water playground. Executive Director Allison Lankford said it means the park is one step closer to opening on time.

“Our phase one goal is $39 million and to date we’ve raised $37 million that includes this gift, so this was a huge step up in our fundraising,” Lankford said.

The park announced the Will Naylor Smith Foundation will pledge $2 million for the park’s water playground feature. It will be named in honor Will Naylor Smith, the son of Susan Moulton, a Versailles horse farm owner. Smith died 16 years ago at age eight.

“I really love the story of her son and his love for water and can’t think of a better fit,” Lankford said.

Lankford said 16,000 people were surveyed and an overwhelming majority of respondents said they’d want to see a water feature at the park. But this feature will serve a dual purpose.

“The children will actually be able to manipulate that (water) and see how it impacts the water flow,” Lankford said.

Town Branch Park will be situated along Town Branch Creek — the body of water Lexington was founded along.

“Today it’s a sea of asphalt, it’s 12 acres of parking lot,” Lankford said.

Construction on the park is hoping to start this summer and be completed by 2025.

The park will be free and open to all community members once completed. Park leaders say it will also be a destination for visitors to the area.