Local Darker Sky Forest Preserves

On September 15, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County hosted its Palos Night Sky Picnic at a Dark Sky International certified urban dark sky preserve, Palos Preserve.  The event, that was co-hosted by Sag Moraine Native Plant Community and Dark Sky Chicago, featured music by Andrew Diehl and the Nightmen and telescopes from the Naperville and Chicago Astronomical Associations. Although the view of the stars was affected by urban skyglow, the night was darker without the glare from artificial lights. More than 300 urban stargazers were treated to more stars than they would typically see with their naked eyes and views of Saturn’s rings and moons through the eyes of telescopes. Special thanks to Mary Busch from Cook County and the incredible Catherine Bryla from Sag Moraine.

Present at the picnic were Bonnie and Jeff Gahris. Bonnie is an advocate for many environmental groups, including DuPage Monarch Project. Jeff is a commissioner with the Forest Preserve of DuPage County. Like Cook County, DuPage has resolved to adhere to Dark Sky International’s Five Principles for Outdoor Lighting.

At the Palos Picnic, Jeff shared that DuPage was implementing a capital improvements plan to improve “outdoor lighting to reduce environmental impacts.” On October 4, the Daily Herald reported on DuPage’s recent press release regarding DuPage’s

“commitment to complying with the best practice guidelines developed by Dark Sky International, the world’s leading authority on light pollution.”

The Forest Preserve Districts of Cook County and DuPage County are champions of many environmental challenges, including light pollution. In DuPage’s recent release, its Director of Natural Resources emphasized that “Artificial outdoor light can disrupt the natural environment for many species. This includes nocturnal animals that use darkness as cover while hunting, amphibians who call at night as part of their breeding rituals and migrating birds that navigate by moonlight and starlight. Not to mention, insects are drawn to artificial light, which can give an unfair advantage to hungry predators and causes challenges for insects like lightning bugs that use light to attract mates.”

Thank you Cook and DuPage!!