Cascade Falls (Jackson, Michigan) facts for kids
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The Cascades is a special man-made waterfall attraction. You can find it in Sparks Foundation County Park, located in Jackson, Michigan. This amazing waterfall lights up and even moves to music! It's a popular spot for concerts and other fun events. These events happen from late May (Memorial Day) until early September (Labor Day).
Three times a year, on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, you can see fireworks shows at The Cascades. Since it was built in 1932, millions of people have visited and enjoyed its beauty.
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What Makes The Cascades Special?
The Cascades has many cool features. It includes six fountains and three reflecting pools. Each pool is about 30 feet (9 meters) wide and 90 feet (27 meters) long. There are 16 waterfalls in total, and 11 of them light up!
In 2013, the old light bulbs were replaced with 90 new LED rope lights. These new lights shine brightly along with different kinds of music. The whole waterfall structure is about 500 feet (152 meters) long, 64 feet (19 meters) wide, and 60 feet (18 meters) deep.
You can walk up to the top of the falls using 126 steps on each side. As you walk, you'll pass by the three reflecting pools. A powerful water pump keeps the falls running. It moves about 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters) of water every minute. This pump also cleans and recycles the water.
The Jackson County Parks Department takes care of The Cascades. You can visit them every night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the summer season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The Story Behind The Cascades
The Cascade Falls were built in 1932. They were created because of a dream by a man named William Sparks. He wanted to do something wonderful for the people of Jackson. He also hoped to build an attraction that would make visitors feel good about the city.
Near Mr. Sparks' home was a swampy area. At first, he planned to turn it into a skating pond. But his idea grew much bigger! Soon, he imagined a whole park. This park would have a golf course, lagoons, canals, toboggan slides, beautiful gardens, picnic areas, a clubhouse, and, of course, The Cascades.
In 1929, the William and Matilda Sparks Foundation was started. Its goal was to turn the land into a fun recreation spot and a peaceful place for thinking.
Inspiration and Building
William Sparks got the idea for The Cascades from the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona, Spain. After trying out a small model, a company called North-Moller Construction Company was hired on October 17, 1931.
The contract said the work had to be finished by April 26, 1932. It also said that workers from Jackson should be hired, and married men should get priority. The building work continued through the winter. The falls officially opened on May 9, 1932, which was Captain Sparks' 59th birthday. About 25,000 people came to see it!
Within just a few years, The Cascade Falls became famous around the world. Today, people from every state in the U.S. and from 33 different countries have signed the visitor logbooks.
Keeping The Cascades Beautiful
Over the years, The Cascades has had several updates to keep it looking great.
Early Repairs
The first big effort to "Save the Cascades" happened in 1969-1970. The falls had started to show wear and tear, and some parts were damaged. To protect them, an amphitheater (an outdoor stage area) was built, and the grounds were fenced off.
Modern Updates
In 1982–1983, a project called "Cascades Rebirth" took place. New computer-controlled lighting and sound systems were installed. This made the light and music shows even better.
Another project happened in 1992–1993. Many concrete parts were fixed, new walkways were added, and a new system was put in place to filter and clean the well water.
In May 2013, the old incandescent lights were replaced with new, energy-saving LED lights. A new computer system was also installed to control the music and light shows. This new system replaced an old one that used cassette tapes to change the lights and music!
Recent Changes
In December 2014, a new multi-phase project began. The first step was to take down a large 150-foot concrete wall. This wall was built in 1970 to stop vandalism, but it also blocked the view of the falls from the street. In the spring of 2015, this wall was replaced with a more open archway and fence.
Future plans include fixing the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems (Phase two). They also plan to repair the concrete steps and fences around the stairway (Phase three). Phases four and five will involve fixing the fountains and the main plaza area.
