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Two years ago, prior to being a parks board member, I approached the same with the idea of obtaining Dark Sky status for Dr. T.K. Lawless Park. In defense of the possibility was the fact that Dark Sky tourism was on the rise and that the park’s nighttime darkness fit within the needed parameters set by the International Dark Sky Association. Throw in the fact the Michiana Astronomical Society has hosted its annual star party at the park for more than 10 years, and I felt that my pipedream had a plausible foundation.

After that initial presentation, I was left with the impression that the board felt it to be a worthy pursuit, and if I wanted to give it my best shot, good luck with that. Maybe that reading wasn’t completely on target, but it was enough of a nudge to push personal traits of perseverance and stubbornness into gear. Because I wanted to honor the memory of my dad and the many occasions we shared the beauty of the night sky, all the above figured into the equation of attaining my goal.

The road to success was more than two years long. Hours upon hours of work went into an application that ended up being more than 60 pages long. With the help and direction of Adam Dalton from the IDA, the application was rejected, rewritten, rejected and rewritten again. Outdoor lighting at the park had to be inventoried, replaced to fit within IDA parameters, and then inventoried again. 

Public outreach was also an essential factor in satisfying the IDA application process. Proof had to show that we were educating the public on the negativities of light pollution. It wasn’t enough to have a Dark Sky location with proper outdoor lighting. It was necessary to enlighten (pun intended) others on the dangers of light pollution to environmental and human health. Many miles were driven, and hours spent to satisfy the stipulation. 

At times, I wondered if the parks board’s original skepticism was true. Amid the many roadblocks and setbacks, the “roll of the eyes” from doubting Thomases, and the tremendous time investment, there were moments when I lost sight of the goal and began to question its validity.

What gave me the support to shoulder on was the board itself and Parks Director Scott Wyman. Despite at times having to report that we were taking one step forward and then two steps back, collectively their support carried the day. A heartfelt thank-you goes out to the parks board and director for helping me keep the goal in a positive perspective. Indeed, it was a team effort.

Creating partnerships with outside entities was also a critical component of the application process. The need was accomplished with the establishment of working relationships with the Cass County Conservation District headed by Korie Blyveis and the Penn-Harris-Madison School District Planetarium and Air Space Museum run by Melinda O’Malley. By partnering with these entities, symbiotic relationships were created that benefits all involved in the preservation of the night sky. Thank you.

The contributions of State Rep. Aaron Miller, Brad Paquette and State Sen. Kim LaSata also needs to be noted. Without their advocacy, Dr. Lawless International Dark Sky Park would not have earned the additional prestigious title of Michigan Dark Sky Preserve. Reps. Miller and Paquette co-sponsored HB 4740 that allowed the county owned parks of Headlands in Emmet County and Dr. Lawless in Cass County to be recognized by the state as Dark Sky Preserves, a title previously reserved for state lands controlled by the DNR. A hearty thank-you to all. A personal thank-you to Rep. Miller for putting me at ease prior to testifying in front of the House Natural Resources and Outdoor Activities Committee.

I would also be amiss if I didn’t say thank you to Parks Maintenance Supervisor and fellow Star Wars junkie Jody Wade. His work ethic and positive attitude helped to make our public outreach programs successful. Also, a salute to those who contributed countless volunteer hours. This includes those associated with the Friends of Cass County Parks. Without their monetary contributions towards lighting improvements we may not have reached our goals. 

The Michiana Astronomical Society also deserves recognition. Their continued contributions of support and input cannot be ignored. Many within the group provided useful input that figured greatly towards the end result. Thank you.

Leader Publications also deserves ample credit — specifically, fellow WMU Broncos Sarah Culton and Ambrosia Neldon. Their acceptance of various articles pertaining to light pollution education and their continued coverage of news associated with the park played a vital role in our success. Thank you.

To maintain marital bliss, I have to say thank you to my wife, Rita. She has always stood by me, and this particular incident is no exception. She spent many nights home alone while I was out in promotion of the park. Her support in the matter is duly noted. I love you, babe!

I hope I’ve remembered everybody who played a part in helping Dr. Lawless Park earn the titles of International Dark Sky Park and Michigan Dark Sky Preserve. I cannot express fully my gratitude. I thank you and so do the citizens of Cass County. This is a big deal and as the park moves forward with baby steps to ensure a positive experience to our nighttime visitors, please understand there are future great things to come.

As I often state, the beauty of Mother Nature does not have to end with the setting sun. An uninhibited view of the night sky offers some of the best artwork that our Creator has to offer. As we are all made of star stuff, being able to appreciate the same allows us to look into our past.

As for the here and now, the COVID-19 pandemic has quieted our celebration. But this too will pass. To keep abreast of future happenings, watch for announcements on the Cass County Parks and Recreation Facebook page and through various media outlets.

Please consider coming to the Dark Side. We have stars.

Robert Parrish is a member of the Cass County Parks Board and lives in Edwardsburg. He can be reached at rbtparrish@comcast.net.