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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY RECEIPT OF THE URBAN NIGHT SKY PLACE DESIGNATION OF ITS PALOS PRESERVE REGION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCATION
WHEREAS, in August of 2021, the Forest Preserves' Palos Preserves region, consisting of approximately 6,600 acres colloquially referred to as Mt. Forest Island, was officially certified an Urban Night Sky Place by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA); and
WHEREAS, designation of this region as an Urban Night Sky Place is only the third such designation to have been made by IDA to date, and is the largest designated Urban Night Sky Place in the world; and
WHEREAS, an IDA Urban Night Sky Place is a municipal park, open space, observing site, or other similar property near or surrounded by a large urban place, whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light; and
WHEREAS, this designation was made possible with the partnership of the Adler Planetarium which spent over 200 hours partnering with the Forest Preserves: (1) to strategically help reduce the Forest Preserves' nighttime light pollution; (2) to educate staff and the public about the Dark Skies; and (3) to assist the Forest Preserves in applying for the International Dark Sky Association's Urban Night Sky Designation; and
WHEREAS, this Urban Night Sky Place designation supports the Forest Preserves' Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan's call to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and to protect its native ecosystems and wildlife as a changing climate continues to impact the region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulate the Adler Planetarium and the Forest Preserves' Green Sustainability Committee for helping the Forest Preserves' Palos Preserve region to receive the Urban Night Sky Place designation by the International Da...
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