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Tucson – Nestled between the bright cities of Phoenix and Tucson, Oracle State Park Center for Environmental Education is a dark sky oasis in the desert. Now the park’s impressive night skies will be protected for future generations. The International Dark-Sky Association is honored to name Oracle State Park an International Dark Sky Park. The prestigious designation is the result of exceptional efforts to protect the area’s dark skies and raise public awareness about the issue. Designated at the “Silver” tier level, the park is the first in the Arizona State Park system to receive IDA recognition.
The summer Milky Way Rises over Oracle State Park. Credit: Mike Weasner.
“We welcome Arizona’s Oracle State Park as the world’s newest International Dark Sky Park,” said IDA Acting Executive Director Scott Kardel. “The team there has done a commendable job in protecting the park’s night sky.”
The summer Milky Way Rises over Oracle State Park. Credit: Mike Weasner.
Encompassing 3,948 acres (1,598 hectares) of land, the park is located in the northeastern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Pinal County, Arizona. It takes its name from the nearby, unincorporated community of Oracle, which was founded by prospectors in the 1870s. At an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,370 meters), the park offers summertime relief from the intense heat of the desert floor below. Park visitors enjoy hiking, wildlife observing, and a variety of nature education programs.
Today’s designation owes much to the efforts of the Oracle Dark Skies Committee (ODSC), whose members include Oracle-area residents, members of the Friends of Oracle State Park, and State Park Rangers. Michael Weasner, a retired former U.S. Air Force pilot and aerospace industry manager, chairs the group and spearheaded the effort to obtain the IDA recognition.
“Oracle is proud to have its State Park receive this important designation to help preserve Arizona’s natural resources,” Weasner said. “The Oracle Dark Skies Committee worked hard to complete the necessary tasks and documentation in record time and is thrilled that Oracle State Park has received the designation.”
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