Villagers Urged To Replace Outdoor Lighting To Comply With Community’s Dark Skies Designation
by Joanne Kendrick
Originally Published in The Villager
In February 2016, Big Park/Village of Oak Creek was designated by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as the 14th community in the world to be awarded as an International Dark-Sky Community. According to the IDA, in order to obtain Dark-Sky designation a community must show “exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education, and citizen support of dark skies. Dark Sky communities excel in their efforts to promote responsible lighting and dark sky stewardship and set good examples for surrounding communities.” This year, the Big Park/Village of Oak Creek Dark-Sky Committee submitted its second annual report to the IDA. Annual reports to the IDA are required to ensure that the standards and objectives of the program are being upheld and progress is being made.
