Fountain Hills is the latest Arizona community to receive a Dark Sky designation from the enonymous international organization.
Oak Creek, Flagstaff and Sedona have already been recognized for their efforts to prevent light pollution. Fountain Hills lighting lawsrequire shielding of bright outdoor lights, and warmer color temperatures below 3000K.
“You don’t need to have light that isn’t shielded,” said Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association co-chair Joe Bill. "It really basically obscures the sky so you can’t see the stars that some of us enjoyed growing up.”
Bill said his group sought the designation in response to an increase in outdoor LED lighting.
“[LED lighting] would really create what is called a sky glow, which is a glow over urban areas that prevents you from seeing the stars,” Bill said.
The American Medical Association warns high-intensity LED light can disrupt human sleep and wildlife.
The Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association plans to hold a festival to celebrate the designation on April 21.
