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�nu2ozo a�, <br /> Astronomy fans enjoy dArk sky parks <br /> MICHIGAN <br /> Bisms Puvez <br /> Detroit Frce Press USA TODAY NETWORK <br /> Michigan is now home to not one,but two dark sky parks• <br /> The Cass County Parks and Recreation Department announced this month that Dr.T.K.Lawless County Park <br /> has ban designatod an Intemational Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Slry Association. <br /> `# The 820-acre nature park is nesded within Cass County,at 15122 Monkey Run St,9 miles east of Cassopolis. <br /> �� Aoconding to the IDA website,aII itltelnBtiOnel d8tk Sky�et1C"is a Iand possessu►S an exceptional or <br /> �-�� distinguished quality of stazr y nig6ts and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its <br /> � scientific,natural,educational,culhual heritage,and/or public enjoymcnt" <br /> �� It took more than 2 1 /2 for the tigious titie,with credit due to Robert Parrish,Cass <br /> County parks c���io mn ember and Intemati nal I�rk-S1ry Associadoa Advocate. <br /> � <br /> �° vews of the ni t <br /> gh sky aren't the same anymore beca�se of light pollution,and Parrish hopod to bring back <br /> ; �h°se stany skies in honor of his dad <br /> It wasn't an easy task.To reach his goa!and designate the Dr.Lawless Darlc Sky park,all the parlc's outdoor <br /> li8b�8�d to be changed.Light readings of the night sky had to be measured to prove that the Park met the <br /> standards set by the dark sky association. <br /> "Robert was out front with this campaign from t�e very beginnin8 and without his passion and perseverance we <br /> wouldn't be where we are today,"said park director Scott Wyman. <br /> Parrish developod a love of ast�+onomy after receiving his first telescope at age 8.He cherished his father's <br /> ' stories of viewing the night sky from aboard the USS Coral Sea when he served in the Navy. <br /> F <br /> � An o�cial celebration is schoduled itom 3 p.m.A}xi124 through noon Apri126. <br /> The park,about 3 6ours west of Det�nit,is namod after Chicago-basod physician,Dr.Theodore Ke�eth <br /> Lawless,who doeded the land to the county after his death in 1971. <br /> There an only 77 dark sky parks in the worid.The Headlands Park,not far from Mackinac Ciry,was the first <br /> park in Miclugan to be designated as a dark sky park in 2011. <br /> Contact Bisma Parvez:313-222-6420 or bparvez@ fl�nress.com Follow her on 7ivitter @btsmapar. <br /> � �n <br /> �- <br />