Oregon state park gets ‘dark sky nod
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (AP) Prineville Reservoir State Park has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park and is the first Oregon park to make the list of the places around the world with the least nighttime light pollution.
The certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park s night skies as well as efforts to install environmentally responsible lighting and educate the public about light pollution.
Willamette Week
The need for strong, independent local journalism
is more urgent than ever. Please support the city we
love by joining Friends of Willamette Week.
Oregon Now Has its First “Dark Sky Park” Securing a Dark Sky Park designation is a rigorous process that requires minimal light pollution. Crooked River near Prineville Resevoir. (Shannon Gormley) Updated 12:34 AM Oregon has a new destination for stargazers and amateur astronomers. Prineville Reservoir State Park is now Oregon’s first Dark Sky Park, a designation awarded by the International Dark Sky Association to locations with minimal light pollution. “The park offers a genuine night-sky experience for those coming from light polluted cities,” Bill Kowalik, chair of the Oregon chapter of the International Dark Sky Association, said in a press release. “Formal recognition of this International Dark Sky Park, located in rapidly growing Central Oregon, will help to educate the public and deci
Prineville Reservoir first Oregon park to get ‘dark sky’ designation By Associated Press
Share:
PRINEVILLE, Ore. Prineville Reservoir State Park has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park and is the first Oregon park to make the list of the places around the world with the least nighttime light pollution.
The certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park’s night skies as well as efforts to install environmentally responsible lighting and educate the public about light pollution.
Prineville Reservoir joins only 174 sites worldwide to have followed the rigorous application program.
The park’s location in Central Oregon makes it more critical as a place to enjoy star-gazing without light pollution, according to the Dark-Sky Association.
Dawn Davis/Oregon State Parks
Night camping under the stars at Prineville Reservoir State Park
It s Oregon s first state park with that designation; Sunriver was first in the state
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association announced Friday that Prineville Reservoir State Park is now a certified International Dark Sky Park, making it the newest addition to the association s Dark Sky Places Program.
Prineville Reservoir is the first Oregon state park and the second place in Oregon to be honored with the designation. The other is also in Central Oregon, as the community of Sunriver was named an International Dark Sky Place last year.