What is a Dark Sky Ordinance?

Dark Sky Ordinances are enacted to protect a community’s night skies from light pollution or urban glow which interferes with being able to see, at night, the starry beauty of deep, dark night skies.

Dark Sky Ordinances typically provide that outdoor lights, at night, should shine downward. Other typical provisions:

• Lights should be turned off when not necessary.
• Safety and security lighting to be provided with lights low to the ground as possible.
• Grandfathering-in and phase-in times for non-conforming lighting.
• Exceptions for police/fire emergency lighting, holiday lighting.

Carefree, Flagstaff, and Tucson have Dark Sky Ordinances. Yavapai County, Wickenburg’s immediate neighbor to the north, also has a Dark Sky Ordinance.

Why Wickenburg, Why Now?

Wickenburg, like other areas west of metro-Phoenix, is currently experiencing slow growth as part of the national economic situation but is poised for a growth spurt. To protect its night skies and to enhance its economic competitiveness as being a pleasant place to live and where property values are enhanced because quality of life is prized, Wickenburg should put a Dark Sky Ordinance in place now, before the next growth spurt takes place and achieving dark skies and accompanying benefits becomes more difficult.

You can become a Dark Sky advocate by:

• Believing that the Town of Wickenburg should have a Dark Sky Ordinance.
• Contributing $1.00 and signing up to allow your name to be known as a Dark Sky Advocate, to help advocate and support, and to receive information about progress in Dark Sky matters.

Say YES to helping preserve the beauty of Wickenburg’s night skies. Say YES to Wickenburg’s enacting a Dark Sky Ordinance. Say YES to being a Wickenburg Dark Sky Advocate.

Contact me to learn more about the Wickenburg Dark Sky Advocates organization: 928/684-3137