Grand Canyon National Park recognized for reducing light pollution

The International Dark-Sky Association, which works to protect the night skies for present and future generations, has named the Grand Canyon an International Dark Sky Park.

The park, along with the Grand Canyon Conservancy, started retrofitting over 1,500 light fixtures after it was given provisional dark-sky status in June 2016. Workers replaced lights with lower-wattage LED bulbs and shields to focus the light on the ground rather than skyward.

So far, 67% of the park’s lighting complies. The park and conservancy hope to have 90% of the lighting meet International Dark-Sky Association standards by 2022.

– Adam Dalton, International Dark-Sky Association