Stacy Park drives Olivette’s International Dark Sky programming; city plans star parties, planetarium and outreach

Commissioners spent a lengthy portion of the April 16 meeting on Stacy Park’s role as a certified urban night sky place and on related outreach and events for International Dark Sky week.

Parks staff noted Stacy Park is certified as Missouri’s first urban night-sky place and as the world’s fourth night-sky place; staff said they would confirm whether it is also the first in the United States. Staff emphasized education as a core responsibility of the designation: the parks department will run star parties, partner with local groups and post educational materials explaining how light pollution affects migrating birds, fireflies and other wildlife.

Planned activities announced at the meeting include a free inflatable planetarium program from the Challenger Science Center on Wednesday, April 23, followed by stargazing at Stacy Park; regular star parties with the St. Louis Astronomical Society; and the annual Hobson Fest later in the summer. Staff said partner organizations expected at events include Audubon, Sierra Club and the St. Louis Astronomical Society. Parks staff also described building‑ and fixture-level steps already taken: shielded, down-directed fixtures in parking areas and interior lighting designed with a human‑spectrum focus to reduce sky glow and protect migrating wildlife.

Commissioners discussed the role of Olivette in Lights Out campaigns. Staff said Clayton has adopted a Lights Out Heartland approach (turning nonessential exterior lights off during migration periods while maintaining safety lighting) and discussed whether Olivette should seek similar commitments from city buildings; several commissioners said such actions would need to be discussed and decided by the City Council rather than by the parks department alone. Parks staff said the parks department can turn off nonessential park lighting at some facilities, but that some city buildings do not have the required kill switches and would need council-level work to change.

Staff also reviewed related outreach and calendar items: the Centennial Greenway official opening on May 3 (9–11 a.m.), with partner presentations and volunteers requested; a city “sixtieth anniversary” Party in the Park on May 9 with family and adult sessions and volunteer needs; and other spring and summer events including cleanups, tree tours, and environmental-education booths. Staff said promotional materials, social media and mailed activity guides have already been used to publicize events and that they will consider additional council-level communications to broaden reach.

Commissioners urged staff to push more city-level publicity in the days before the events and to check with the City Manager and council members about turning nonessential municipal lighting off during International Dark Sky week and peak bird migration periods. Staff agreed to coordinate with communications staff and with partner organizations to expand outreach and to provide pamphlets and web links at events.