An International Dark Sky designation is a sought-after accolade (similar to, e.g., All-America City) that both sets communities apart and enhances their public visibility in a positive way.

The International Dark Sky Reserve nomination effort involves enacting a lighting management plan. This can help a community improve current and future lighting and clarify expectations both for private property owners as well as the municipality itself.

Lighting that is friendly toward the night sky is also friendly toward people, improving nighttime visibility, reducing glare, and contributing to the safety and security of the city’s residents.

Sensible lighting practices that keep light on the ground where it is needed, and out of the night sky, result in tangible electricity savings, benefiting a city’s bottom line.

An IDA label may align with other municipal priorities, such as environmental management plans. In other words, seeking an IDA designation is not only consistent with those plans, but can help achieve the stated goals.

IDA status can contribute positively to enhanced property values, tapping into a property ownership market that prizes dark skies.

If the community is located in a naturally dark area, it may well benefit from tourism associated with night-sky viewing (“astrotourism”). IDA status is a demonstrated tourism draw, tapping into a global astrotourism market thought to be worth billions of dollars in coming decades.

The International Dark Sky Reserve process offers an opportunity for community building, requiring a community to unite around common goal and support a shared identity.

The conservation community increasingly identifies the preservation of naturally dark nighttime conditions as an important priority.

Affiliation with the worldwide dark skies movement helps support parks’ sustainability goals the environmental bona fides.

Scientific research indicates that essentially every species suffers the inadvertent consequences of artificial light at night to some extent; for some, it is fatal.

Sensible lighting practices that keep light on the ground where it is needed, and out of the night sky, result in tangible electricity savings, benefiting a park’s bottom line.

Lighting that is friendly toward the night sky is also friendly toward people, improving nighttime visibility and contributing to the safety and security of both park staff and visitors.

An International Dark Sky Park designation is a sought-after accolade that both sets parks apart and enhances their public visibility in a positive way.

IDA Dark Sky status is a demonstrated tourism draw, tapping into a global astrotourism market thought to be worth billions of dollars in coming decades.