Release Date: June 3, 2021
Contact: Amanda Rowland, amanda_rowland@nps.gov, 435-772-0160
The National Park Service and the International Dark Sky Association announce Zion National Park as an International Dark Sky Park.
SPRINGDALE, UT – The National Park Service and the International Dark Sky Association are pleased to announce Zion National Park as an International Dark Sky Park. This certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park’s night skies and provides added opportunities to enhance visitor experiences through astronomy-based interpretive programming. “Zion National Park is committed to conserving the park’s night skies for all future generations and to educating visitors about the values of this important resource,” said Jeff Bradybaugh, park superintendent.
The park was supported through the certification process by many partners including the towns of Springdale and Rockville, Kane County Commission, Washington County Commission, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, Utah Office of Tourism, Zion National Park Forever Project, and the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative. Springdale Town Mayor, Mr. Stanley Smith, wrote in support of Zion National Park’s designation, “Situated just outside the entrance to Zion National Park, Springdale has long had an abiding mutual interest in helping to protect natural resources of this incredible public land. We value the beauty of our night sky and understand the need to protect it in a collaborate effort. We applaud and wholeheartedly support Zion’s efforts to preserve this ethereal gem.” Zion National Park will continue to work with our partners and others on future dark sky visitor experiences.
To recognize this support for dark sky conservation and interpretation, all Ranger led programming during the week of June 7th will focus on promoting Junior Ranger Night Explorer booklets and night sky themes. Please check the Park website for program details, Ranger-led Activities – Zion National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
There will also be opportunity to celebrate this certification virtually. The National Park Service has developed a Junior Ranger Night Explorer program, encouraging young park visitors to explore the starry side of their national parks. Children can become a Junior Ranger Night Explorer from home by downloading the booklet. During the week of June 7th, the park will be providing Ranger-led activities the public can do from home and on the park’s social media (Facebook www.facebook.com/zionnps, Instagram www.instagram.com/zionnps, and Twitter www.twitter.com/zionnps).
The International Dark Sky Places Program was founded in 2001 as a non-regulatory and voluntary program to encourage communities, parks, and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting polices and public education. Each International Dark Sky Place follows a rigorous application process that demonstrates robust community support for dark sky certification. The first National Park Service unit to receive the certification was Utah’s own Natural Bridges National Monument in 2007. Today, Zion National Park joins many other National Park Service units and State Parks in Utah as an International Dark Sky Place.
About the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA): IDA’s mission is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at www.darksky.org.
For additional information about exploring and protecting night skies visit the park website, https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/nature/nightskies.htm
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Visit Zion National Park at www.nps.gov/zion, on Facebook www.facebook.com/zionnps, Flicker www.flickr.com/zionnps, Instagram www.instagram.com/zionnps, Twitter www.twitter.com/zionnps, and YouTube www.youtube.com/npszion.
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The Zion National Park Forever Project supports education, research, publication, philanthropy, and other programs for the benefit of Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Pipe Spring National Monument.