Steinaker State Park received a special designation this week, joining only three other parks in Utah that claim the same title. Steinaker received International Dark Sky Park status on January 22nd by the International Dark Sky Association, joining Antelope Island, Goblin Valley, and Dead Horse Point state parks in the status. Measurements of the quality of the night sky had to be taken over a period of a year and a half in order to earn the designation. Steinaker State Park staff also held educational night sky events and kept the public informed of their progress through public meetings among other means. “Having internationally-recognized dark skies bolsters our ability to attract more visitors and offer more night programming,” shares Utah State Parks Director Fred Hayes, “which results in more people enjoying our parks at more times of the day.” Utah currently leads the country in Dark Sky designations and there are a dozen more Utah State Parks in various stages of the application process.
