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. Click here to view the Tassell
Park Master Plan.
Let me begin by thanking all of you for coming here today for
the dedication of your park.
I am especially honored and so very pleased that you have
allowed my name to be given to the park. In a few more months,
I will be 94 years old, God willing, and the opportunity to
participate in the park's creation is a wonderful birthday present.
Thank you.
I hope this becomes a place where people celebrate their
families. I encourage parents and grandparents from all over
the area to bring children here to fish the river, to play in the
fountains, to picnic and just spend time enjoying one each other.
Times like these will help make our community a place of strong,
moral people. Unfortunately, the tragic events of the past
weeks underscore the importance and need for these kind of times
together.
The location here on the riverbank is perfect, and for that I
must give a special acknowledgement to former Township Supervisor
Wendell Champion and former Township Manager Carl Kerekes.
They had the foresight ten years ago to go house to house and
acquire these parcels of property in the name of the citizens of
Cascade.
We can all see how beautiful the township has made the area
around 28th Street and Cascade Road, and how it has helped give
Cascade a sense of downtown. This park will add immensely to
that sense of having a downtown, or more appropriately, a town
square. When the people across the street named their
restaurant "The Gathering Place" they didn't know just how right
they were going to be.
To every one who has participated in helping pay for the park,
whether it was in the form of a building or brick, bless you.
You have been part of of one of the noblest of enterprises, that of
creating something of lasting value. Some of my friends who
are here today have made a lifetime pursuit of doing that for all
our benefits.
Special thanks, though, must go to Rex and Joyce Kingsland for
their wonderful donation of the boardwalk, which gives us our
closest contact with the river. And to Bob and Aleica Woodrick
for their generous donation of the bronze sculpture "Circle of
Peace", by Gary Price. And to my own daughter and her husband,
Joyce and Tom Wisner, for the pavilion they provided.
Last, but not least, I want to thank my friend, Mike Julien.
He was the one who first approached me on the idea of participating
in this park. We had many, many meetings about this and he was
the one who really got the ball rolling. Mike and all of the
Township staff have done a yeoman's job in getting the park this far
along in such a short time. We all thank you, Mike.
We all appreciate any suggestions you have to help us continue
to improve and beautify your park, and I thank you again for coming.
Click
here to read more about Mr. Leslie E. Tassell
The 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. 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.
The following are
remarks offered by Leslie E. Tassell on the occasion of the dedication
of the Leslie E. Tassell Park on October 4, 2001.
Wisner
Pavilion & Terrace Area - Permit Regulations
