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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE ADLER PLANETARIUM AND FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY FOR RECEIVING TWO AWARDS FOR THE PALOS PRESERVES URBAN NIGHT SKY PLACE INCLUDING A PARK & RECREATION FACILITY - CLASS IV AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION OFFICIALS AND AN INNOVATION IN CONSERVATION AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, in May of 2022, the Adler Planetarium and the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) received a Park & Recreation Facility - Class IV Award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials’ annual national awards program which honors excellence in county, regional and special district level parks and recreation throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Park & Recreation Facility - Class IV Award specifically recognizes excellence in park and recreation areas, recreation facilities, and operational facilities for population service areas of over 500,001; and
WHEREAS, in September of 2022, the Adler Planetarium and the Forest Preserves also received an Innovation in Conservation Award from the National Recreation and Park Association’s Innovation Award program which recognizes park and recreation agencies nationwide that have improved and strengthened their communities through innovative practices in park design, health and wellness, conservation and social equity; and
WHEREAS, the Innovation in Conservation award specifically recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative project that creates localized solutions for addressing global or regional environmental challenges; and
WHEREAS, light pollution, or artificial light at night, has negative impacts on human health and wildlife, increases carbon dioxide emissions, and obscures the ability to enjoy the observation of celestial objects; and
WHEREAS, to address these issues and promote the benefits of a nighttime environment for people and nature, the Forest Preserves partnered with the Adler Planetarium to pursue the International Dark-Sky Association’s (IDA) Urban Night Sky Place designation for its Palos Preserves which it received in 2021; and
WHEREAS, this 6,662-acre area within the Palos Preserves emits nearly 1,000 times less light than nearby Chicago, allowing visitors to see four times more stars; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves has developed a series of programs to provide a unique and new way to explore and learn about nature including star gazing, astronomical events, and night hikes; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves collaborated with the Adler Planetarium to create a light management plan, adopt a Dark Sky Friendly Policy, and to work with students and volunteers to build and utilize specially designed cameras to measure light pollution in the forest preserves; and
WHEREAS, the Palos Preserves are now the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world, and this designation helps to celebrate and amplify the importance of dark skies for the benefit of human and natural communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that President Toni Preckwinkle and the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners thank and congratulate the Forest Preserves’ staff, Adler Planetarium and all students and volunteers involved for their work on the Urban Night Sky Place designation for the Palos Preserves and for being recognized by the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials and the National Recreation and Park Association. .end