Dark-Sky Committee
The purpose of the Dark-Sky Committee is to uphold the IDA Dark-Sky Community designation on behalf of Big Park/Village of Oak Creek.
Its scope includes performing the maintenance activities and reporting as required, including the yearly submission of a written report to the IDA summarizing activities: (a) description and dates of interpretive events, outreach, and educational efforts; (b) description of lighting retrofit projects; (c) description of new construction projects; (d) night sky measurement report; (e) coordination of educational activities and events for Big Park / VOC; (f) collaboration with the other International Dark-Sky communities and committees in the Verde Valley; (g) collaborate with Yavapai County government and other local IDA groups to support existing lighting ordinances and updates to the ordinances; (h) foster dark sky curiosity among residents and visitors. See Big Park/VOC Dark-Sky Community Annual Report.
The Joy of the Dark Awaits
Photo is courtesy of Elaine Belvin “Milky Way Majesty” Elaine Belvin Photography.
Big Park/Village of Oak Creek is an accredited International Dark Sky Community. The Dark Sky Committee of the Big Park Council schedules local Dark Sky parties and educational activities.
Yavapai County Planning & Development Services regulates and enforces Dark Sky compliance for Big Park/Village of Oak Creek. This department can be reached at Planning Division for questions or to report concerns. A copy of the Ordinance can be viewed or downloaded by found at Whole Ordinance update experiment (yavapaiaz.gov).
In 2001, the International Dark Sky Association designated Flagstaff as the world’s first International Dark Sky City, based on the community’s long-lasting efforts at preserving dark skies. The Lowell Observatory has been and remains key to these efforts.
To learn more about Dark Skies and the Lowell Observatory, visit their website.
Star Parties in the area
Local area Star Parties and other events can be found on Astroverde – Astronomers of Verde Valley – Amateur astronomy club in Northern Arizona
About Big Park
The effort to designate the Village began as the result of Sedona’s achievement and has brought greater awareness of dark skies to the area west and south of Sedona. In order to position the (unincorporated) Village as eligible for an IDSC award, the applicants lobbied for changes to the controlling legislation in the local jurisdiction, resulting in a County-wide policy that brings Dark Sky Community-levels of protection to the entirety of unincorporated Yavapai County. That outcome is unique in the history of Dark Sky Places. Furthermore, building off of a successful public outreach program developed for Sedona, the Village has educated many of its residents and property owners on the importance of maintaining the area’s dark nighttime environment.
DarkSky International Information Excerpts
The International Dark Sky Association has become DarkSky International. The following content combines information from DarkSky International website along with recommendations from the Dark-Sky committee of the Big Park Council. DarkSky International also recommends lighting to preserve the Dark Sky phenomenon and those recommendations are also copied below.
Links to the DarkSky International website follow:
DarkSky International – Protecting the night skies for present and future generations
Big Park / Village of Oak Creek, Arizona | DarkSky International
Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting | DarkSky International