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I'm not sure what the difference is between a dark sky park and a dark sky preserve, but there are plenty of the former. As the article notes, there are already many International Dark Sky Parks, with nearly 40 in the U.S. Here's a list: http://www.darksky.org/idsp/parks/

I've been to the Headlands park in Michigan; it's a beautiful location on the north-west corner of the lower peninsula, right on the lakeshore. The guest house is actually shockingly cheap ($300) for a beach-front rental space; you'd be hard-pressed to find an AirBNB with similar features for less - it would make a great company retreat for 10-20 people.




I believe the difference between park and preserve/reserve is a park is an area typically not populated with laws protecting from light pollution while a preserve/reserve is an area that is populated with city/state laws protecting from light pollution. source- amateur astronomer who frequently visits star parties and interacts with IDA members


From the website[0]:

"The Dark Sky Places program offers five types of designations:

...

International Dark Sky Parks

Parks are publicly- or privately-owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors.

International Dark Sky Reserves

Reserves consist of a dark 'core' zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core."

[0] - http://www.darksky.org/idsp/


is there a map for all of these?



In case anybody else is wondering, here's the key for the letters on the map:

C = Communities

P = Parks

R = Reserves

S = Sanctuaries

D = Developments of Distinction

-----

International Dark Sky Communities Communities are legally organized cities and towns that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances and undertake efforts to educate residents about the importance of dark skies.

International Dark Sky Parks Parks are publicly- or privately-owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors.

International Dark Sky Reserves Reserves consist of a dark “core” zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core.

International Dark Sky Sanctuaries Sanctuaries are the most remote (and often darkest) places in the world whose conservation state is most fragile.

Dark Sky Developments of Distinction Developments of Distinction recognize subdivisions, master planned communities, and unincorporated neighborhoods and townships whose planning actively promotes a more natural night sky but does not qualify them for the International Dark Sky Community designation.

Source: http://www.darksky.org/idsp/




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