CASS COUNTY, MICH. -- A county park in southwestern Michigan has been recognized as an exemplary place for taking in the night sky.

Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association, an exceptional distinction given to locations that offer unspoiled night-sky viewing.

The 860-acre park, nine miles east of Cassopolis, is only the second park in Michigan to be honored with the distinction. In 2011, the Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City became the first such park in the state, and one of the first 10 international dark sky parks in the world.

The process to apply for the designation is extremely rigorous, including recording detailed measurements of the sky’s darkness as well as altering outdoor lighting to meet strict requirements. So the official designation from the International Dark-Sky Association came as exciting news for Robert Parrish, a lifelong Cass County resident and Cass County Parks board member, who for more than two years has spearheaded the park’s effort to acquire the special designation.

“Honestly, I cried," he said of when he got the news. “It was a very rewarding feeling when I realized that we made it.”

Now that the designation has been announced, Cass County Parks is assessing the best ways to encourage the public to have a rewarding and safe night-sky viewing experience at the park. The park is committed to staying open late a certain number of nights for star viewing, and special programming is in the works, like introductory astro-photography workshops. Eventually, Parrish said, the dream is to construct the park’s own observatory.

An official celebration of the International Dark-Sky designation is scheduled to coincide with the Michiana Astronomical Society’s annual “Star Party” at the park, scheduled for April 24-26.

Parrish said he hopes to have a website for the park up and running soon, but in the meantime, people can stay tuned for more information about the park and upcoming dark-sky events at the Cass County Parks web page.

Dark skies are considered to be a dwindling natural, cultural, and economic resource, with light pollution impacting everything from migratory birds to baby sea turtles to human circadian rhythms. An estimated 80 percent of the developed world is unable to see the Milky Way; perhaps relatedly, dark-sky tourism is on the rise.

Parrish credits his late father with instilling in him an abiding love of the night sky, which is something he’s looking forward to seeing more people enjoy at Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park.

“There’s very few places you can go nowadays where light pollution doesn’t interfere with our view of the night sky,” he said. “But seeing the Milky Way is an awe-inspiring experience, and I think collectively everybody at the park wanted to let everybody in on that beauty.”

“The beauty of Mother Nature doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down.”

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