The Cascades, an illuminated man-made waterfall founded by William "Cap" Sparks, has thrilled generations of visitors from around the world since it opened in May 1932. Inspired by an illuminated fountain he saw in Barcelona, Spain, Sparks brought the idea home and launched the development of the Sparks Foundation County Park, now managed by the Jackson County Parks Department. The landmark is 500 feet long, rises 64 feet above the ground, and is 90 feet wide, framed by 126 steps leading to the top, where 2,000 gallons of filtered, chlorinated water per minute are pumped over 16 waterfalls, 11 of them illuminated by thousands of colored lights. Over the years, The Cascades has undergone many renovations and remains a favorite place for recreation and summer events such as live music and fireworks displays. Sparks, who lived from 1873 to 1943, also co-founded Sparks-Withington Co. and the Jackson Zouaves, an internationally famous drill team, and his association with that group earned him the nickname "Cap."