Cass County Parks Department Celebrates Dark Sky Designation For T.K. Lawless County Park

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Officials at the Cass County Parks and Recreation Department are over the moon now that the county’s Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park has been designated an International Dark-Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. Parks Director Scott Wyman tells WSJM News the park about nine miles east of Cassopolis has long been a great place for star gazing.

“We always knew that we were a great place to view the stars,” Wyman said. “The Michiana Astronomical Society for many years has held their annual meeting at Dr. Lawless Park.”

Wyman says parks board member Robert Parrish had the idea to go for the dark sky designation. From there, it required some work.

“It’s just a great place to view stars, and it’s a place that, not only can you view the stars with very little light pollution, but we’re also at the forefront of energy usage and light management.”

Wyman says the park is now committed to being open a certain number of nights for star viewing, and will also provide special night programming events. The International Dark-Sky Association works to protect the night skies for present and future generations by educating people about the effects of light pollution. Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park is now one of two Dark-Sky Parks in the state.