Jackson’s Cascades Falls: A Century of History, Now in Peril

Cascades Falls in Jackson, Michigan, is more than just an iconic landmark. It's a community gathering spot that hosts countless walks, concerts, fireworks displays, and fundraisers over its nearly century-long existence. Sadly, it's crumbling. This treasure opened to the public on May 10, 1932, and dazzled those in attendance with its illuminated concrete falls.

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However, fast-forward nearly a century, and let's just say if Cascades Falls were a person, they would need much more than Botox to fix the issues. Fox 47 recently toured the facility and was shown cracked concrete and outdated pumps—it's basically held together with duct tape and the good intentions of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, who handles the maintenance of the landmark.

Revitalizing an Iconic Jackson Landmark

It's not all doom and gloom. A parks millage, passed in 2018, has come to the rescue. The community has also put together some funds earmarked for the Cascades, realizing that a Jackson without the Falls would be like Detroit without the cars.

Concrete restorations, along with plumbing and mechanical upgrades, are estimated to total between $2.75 and $3.5 million.

According to a report in the Jackson Citizen Patriot, officials received an anonymous $1 million gift. With the $500,000 allocated to the improvement projects from the 2018 millage, County officials hope to raise the remaining funds in the next year or so.

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So, next time you visit the Cascades and feel the familiar mist on your face as you approach this Jackson landmark, remember that every penny helps. Of course, if you have an extra $2 million to spare, drop it in one of the donation boxes.