Area Parks

Burton Park

Burton Park is approximately 80 acres and is located at 6805 Burton St. The property is wooded with considerable topography as well as meadow areas. It is intended that any changes to the property will only allow for passive recreational uses.

There are two entrances to the park: Burton Street and Windcrest Street.

The west access point is located at the east end of Burton Street. There is a six-car parking lot off the access road entrance once you enter the property. Please do not drive past the parking lot.

The parking at Windcrest Street is at the end of the road. There are three regular parking spaces and one handicapped space. There are also two handicapped only parking spaces inside the park as you enter off from Burton Street at the Township garage.

There are two bathrooms located on the north end of the large metal storage building. These bathrooms are open year-round. We are also working on the marking and clearing the interior trails in the park.

Park Ordinance

Park Rules

Map of Park

Cascade Peace Park

Cascade Peace Park is approximately 198 acres in size. This property consists of floodplain and meadow areas with extensive old growth forest. No improvements are on the property and it is intended that any changes to the property will only allow for passive recreational uses.

Cascade Peace Park is located at 8900 Grand River Ave. and can be accessed from two locations. The access off from Bolt Drive is located at the west end of Bolt Drive on an unpaved section of road.

This access point has a small parking area and is better suited for handicapped access.

The Grand River drive access is at the far NE corner of the property. Grand River Dr provides better access for those on bikes since it is located along a dedicated bike lane on the park side of the Grand River Dr. This location also provides an opportunity to provide public parking.

This property was identified originally by the Cascade Township open space study as having desirable features for preservation. In order to acquire the property the Township worked with the assistance of the open space committee, The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, The Nature Conservancy, The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Disability advocates of West Michigan as well as local landscapers. The property was acquired with assistance by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund and The Nature Conservancy. Both of these organizations provided assistance in purchasing the property.

Peace Park also has a bow hunting which was expanded beginning the 2022 season. The permit program for hunting in Peace Park offers a total of 45 permits over three periods Oct. 30-Dec. 31. As of 2022, permits will be available for doe-only hunting drawn lottery-style. Applications are accepted September 1-11 each year. Hunting period will be assigned using preference rankings in conjunction with the lottery-system.

To qualify for a hunting permit, you must bring in to the Township Office or email your completed application with a copy of the front and back of your photo ID and proof of a valid Michigan hunting license for the upcoming season.

Park Ordinance

Park Master Plan

Hunting Application

Map of Park

Cascade Township Recreation Park

Cascade Township currently has one recreation park, located approximately one mile south of 28th Street at 3810 Thornapple River Drive SE. The 55-acre park offers a variety of recreational opportunities including two baseball/softball diamonds, a multi-purpose field for soccer/football, a one-mile pedestrian path, four horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court, an 18-hole Frisbee golf course and four tennis courts.

The park also has two large play systems and a swing set for children in the 5-12 year old age group.

There is a shelter adjacent to the play area. A pavilion (available for rent) and a gazebo offer additional shelter and are located at either end of the park. Picnic tables can be found all over the park including the three shelters. Restroom facilities are also available.

In winter, a large hill at the East End of the park is used for sliding and tobogganing. The pedestrian path is kept clear for walking and there is plenty of wide-open space for cross-country skiing.

Read about the Cascade Township Park Rules and Regulations as found in Amended Ordinance 13/2003.

View a PDF map of the park

View a Google Map of the park or get directions.

For further information on the park, please call (616) 949-0318.

Recent updates (from September 2023 Township E-Newsletter)

Thirty-six native tree and shrubs were planted in August 2023 along the path next to I-96. All these trees were purchased thanks to a DTE Energy Foundation Tree Planting Grant secured by the township. The grant program guidelines recommended a diversity of trees to be planted to prevent a pest, like emerald ash borer, from wiping out the entire planting. If faced with a new forest pest, species diversity is a landowner’s best defense.

Thanks to Calvin University’s Plaster Creek Steward Program, several tree species were added that were not available from commercial nurseries. Cascade Township is grateful they were willing to provide critical trees to the project.

Native trees planted include:

American Chestnut	Common Elderberry
American Sycamore	Dawn Redwood
Black Gum	Kentucky Coffee Tree
Black Oak	Pagoda Dogwood
Black Walnut	Red-berried Elderberry
Bur Oak	Serviceberry
Chinkapin Oak	Wafer Ash/Hop Tree
	White Pine

Leslie E. Tassell Park

Leslie E. Tassell Park, a 3.2-acre park on the Thornapple River, is located just south of Cascade Rd., at 2900 Thornapple River Dr. Construction of the park began in spring 2001 with completion in 2002.

Read the Dedication by Leslie E. Tassell, Oct. 4, 2001

The park, situated beneath a variety of mature hardwood trees and beautiful landscaping, boasts an interactive fountain, sculptures, a fire pit, two shelters and a public restroom. Picnic tables and benches are located throughout the park.

Leslie E. Tassell Park Wisner Pavilion/Terrace is available for rent. Visit the Park Reservations page for more information.

Opportunities abound for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, relaxing along the bank of the river or picnicking. The park is near the Cascade Rd. and Thornapple River Dr. pathways, allowing easy access by foot or bicycle. There are two small lots at either end of the park for vehicle traffic.

Rules and Regulations

Leslie E Tassell Park shall be open to the public between the hours of 8:00 am and 11:00 pm.
No person shall cut, mutilate, injure overturn, remove, or in any way damage any personal or real property belonging to the park system or Cascade Charter Township.
No dogs shall be permitted in the park unless on a leash. Owners of dogs shall be held responsible to immediately clean up the area where their dog has defecated.
No person shall consume or bring into the park any beer, wine, liquor or any other intoxication liquor or controlled substance.
No person shall post any advertisement, circular or handbill within the park; nor shall any solicitor be allowed to sell or in any other manner dispose of any article in the park.
No permission shall be given to any vendor or peddler of food, beverages or refreshments unless included as part of a permitted activity in the park.
Fires shall only be permitted in the community fire ring pursuant to approval by the Township Fire Department. Please call (616) 949-1320.
No person shall use a skateboard, roller blades, or similar items in any part of the park.
A Permit to use the Wisner Pavilion for picnics, social gatherings and Weddings shall be limited to groups no more than fifty (50) in total. Reservations are limited to two (2) events per month and are given on a first come first serve basis. Permits can be obtained from the Planning Department no sooner than 11 months prior to the event and must include all information as required by the Picnic/Wedding permit application as adopted by the Township Board.
The use of sound amplifiers is prohibited at the Park unless a permit has been obtained from the Township as part of an approved event at the Park.

Community Fire Ring

Be responsible.
No burning of trash or garbage.
Do not leave fire unattended.
Persons under 16 years of age are not allowed to start a fire.
Notify the Township Fire Department at (616) 949-1320 prior to having a fire.
Put the fire out when finished.
Keep fire in the Community fire ring only.
All fires must be extinguished by 11:00 pm.
No bonfires.
Family use only; no large gatherings.

Wisner Pavilion & Terrace Area - Permit Regulations

Event is limited to a total of 50 persons.
Event is limited to a total of four hours.
Reservations are limited for the Wisner Pavilion and terrace area only, the remainder of the park will be open to the public.
The Township will allow reservations of the Wisner Pavilion and terrace area two times per month.
Reservations will be taken on a first come first serve basis.
There will be no alcoholic beverages present/consumed at Tassell Park.
You must contact the Buildings and Grounds Department at (616) 949-1500 to move any of the picnic tables from the Pavilion for your event.
The applicant is responsible for any damages or repairs to the park as a result of the event.
The use of any amplifiers shall be limited to those that will not disturb the quiet enjoyment of the park. The Township must approve the use of any amplifiers prior to the event.
The use of any decorations, such as banners or signs shall limited to the area around the pavilion and terrace and anything attached to the pavilion shall be attached using the eyebolts around the perimeter of the overhang at the pavilion.
All other park rules must be complied with.

Map of Tassell Park

Michael McGraw Park

McGraw ParkThrough a generous donation from Michael McGraw in 2002, Cascade Township acquired property on the Grand River, in the northeast corner of the township. This 68-acre parcel is located 1.1 miles east of Buttrick Ave., on Grand River Dr. As it is almost entirely flood plain for the Grand River, the park will remain largely undeveloped, left in its natural state. The park borders a larger 120-acre parcel donated to Ada Township.

Along the bank of the river is a paved asphalt trail for pedestrians or bicyclists. The trail is, at this time, the only entrance into the park.

Virgil Nishimura Westdale Memorial Park

The Virgil Nishimura Westdale Memorial Park located at the northwest corner of Cascade Rd. and Thornapple River Dr. The garden incorporates the original Cascade Town Hall. Benches are placed around the garden and on the patios to enable admirers and pedestrians to sit and enjoy their surroundings.

Its location makes it an ideal rest stop for persons traveling through the village on the pedestrian pathway.

The property, once the site of a gas station in the village for many years, was renovated in the summer of 2015. The garden area was redesigned to encourage more interaction with three large trees in the center area, updated plantings, a sculpture pad, musical interaction pieces, soft lighting and new seating.

Rendering of the redesigned gardens

Disc Golf

Disc Golf Map