Born in 1955, I grew up during the Space Race of the ‘60s. That era had great influence on my young mind. My bedroom had many model rockets, space themed window curtains and NASA news clippings pinned to the walls.

Living in Cassopolis offered additional influence via hometown hero Iven Kincheloe Jr. Flying to the height of 126,200 feet, his exploits in the X-2 experimental aircraft earned him the title of “America’s First Spaceman.” The space race had my attention.

Recognizing my interest and wishing to fuel it, Santa brought me a telescope when I was 7 years old. My dad and I spent many nights fending off mosquitoes and staring through that same telescope without any knowledge of what we were looking at.

Dad thought the night sky was beautiful and would relate his younger days on the farm seeing the northern lights and looking at the stars in what was then pristine skies.

Having served in the U.S. Navy, his recounts of the night sky from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean were akin to a mystical experience. As we both grew older, he still loved to share time with me looking at nature’s nighttime beauty.

I lost my dad earlier this year. He was the best dad a kid could ever have hoped for. In remembrance of our nighttime exploits and love of the cosmos, I have dedicated my efforts to have Dr. T.K. Lawless Park recognized as a Dark Sky Park in his honor.

Recognition is awarded by the International Dark Sky Association (darksky.org). The application process is a test of perseverance. But with the backing of the County Parks and Recreation Board, it is an attainable goal.

Currently, within Michigan, there is only one park honored as a Dark Sky Park. That would be Headlands Park in Emmet County near the Straits of Mackinac (midarkskypark.org). By offering pristine views of the night sky and providing public education on the negatives of light pollution, Headlands Park has proven to be a tourist draw and economic boon to its area. We hope to follow that lead right here in Cass County with Lawless Park.

An important part to the application process is the accumulation of letters of support from area citizens, businesses and social organizations. If anyone reading this plea can find the time to help fill this need, thank you. Please send the same to my email rbtparrish@comcast.net. Many thanks in advance.

I believe nature’s beauty doesn’t stop when the sun sinks below the western horizon. For those that have never experienced the sight of the Milky Way arching across the sky, it is a humbling and cosmic experience. Are we alone among the vastness of the universe? I don’t know. But to quote from the movie “Contact,” if we are, it is a tremendous waste of space. Either way, alone or one of millions of civilizations scattered throughout billions of galaxies, it’s a beauty to behold which deserves to be preserved.

Robert Parrish, of Edwardsburg, is working to have Lawless Park designated as a Dark Sky Park. He can be reached via email at rbtparrish@comcast.net. This column is written in memory of Andrew Ernest Parrish.