CASS COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — T.K. Lawless County Park has been officially designated as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association.
Following the approval, this makes T.K Lawless County Park the second Dark Sky Park in Michigan, second only to the Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City.
A dark sky preserve is an area in which night-time lighting is controlled, promoting astronomy and enjoyment of the night sky.
In order to be approved for the recognition, the concerned area must meet stringent requirements, such as the amount of light visible, as well as how dark the park actually gets.
Previously, legislation to designate the area as a Dark Sky Park was being championed by State Rep. Aaron Miller.
“We’re doing this not just for tourism, but for educational and recreational purposes,” Miller said in a statement. “It’s an amazing thing that has really taken off in recent years. It would be worth a trip to Cass County just to see T.K. Lawless County Park.”
Officials with Cass County Parks are now working to decide how to best encourage and educate visitors about the park. To begin with, plans are in the works to have the park stay open later on certain nights.
Officials say that many educational programs are also planned. Among them, the possibility of an observatory is under discussion.
A celebration of the new Dark Sky Park is scheduled to take place on April 24-26.
Officials are encouraging citizens to keep up with all updates through the Cass County Parks website.
