Cascade Falls (Jackson, Michigan)

The Cascades is a manmade waterfall attraction in Sparks Foundation County Park, Jackson, Michigan.

They are the result of William Sparks' dream to do something for the people of Jackson and to build an attraction that would provide visitors with a positive impression of the city.

The William and Matilda Sparks Foundation was created in the fall of 1929 to develop the land into a recreation spot and meditation center.

Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona, Spain served as Sparks’ inspiration for the Cascade Falls.

[1] After experimenting with a scale model, a contract was awarded to the North-Moller Construction Company on October 17, 1931.

The contract required that the job be completed by April 26, 1932, that Jackson labor be used, and that married men be shown preference.

Work continued on schedule throughout the winter, and the falls opened to a crowd of 25,000 people on May 9, 1932, Captain Spark's 59th birthday.

Extensive concrete repairs were done, new walkways added, and a new filtered and chlorinated well water system installed.