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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH ADLER PLANETARIUM, A WORLD-RENOWNED PLANETARIUM, RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION AND CHICAGOLAND DESTINATION
WHEREAS, the partnership between the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the "Forest Preserves") and the Adler Planetarium reflects a shared commitment to protect our local ecosystems, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to connect people to nature and the remarkable universe we all share; and
WHEREAS, since 2018, the Adler Planetarium has spent over 200 hours partnering with the Forest Preserves: (1) to reduce the Forest Preserves' nighttime light pollution; (2) to educate staff and the public about the importance of dark skies; and (3) to assist the Forest Preserves in its pursuit of the International Dark Sky Association's Urban Night Sky Designation for one of its preserves; and
WHEREAS, nighttime light pollution in Cook County renders invisible thousands of twinkling stars, contributes to global warming, negatively impacts human health and wildlife, and contributes to birds becoming disoriented during migrations and colliding with buildings, making Chicago one of the most dangerous place in the United States for birds according to a 2019 study from Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology; and
WHEREAS, the Adler Planetarium helped the Forest Preserves perform lighting and window upgrades throughout its facilities and parking lots, trained Forest Preserve staff on light monitoring protocols, and collected night light readings across the Forest Preserves in an effort to reduce light pollution; and
WHEREAS, the Adler Planetarium has helped the Forest Preserves: (1) grow its community science and outreach efforts by exploring the effects of light pollution on breeding populations of frogs and toads with the Preserves' "Calling Frog Survey" program; and (2) brought Adler's "Far Horizon Teen Program" into the Forest Preserves for programming and educational s...
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