Get Ready to Party... Star Party
Watoga State Park is a certified Dark Sky Park in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Its designation also covers neighboring Calvin Price State Forest and Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, and Watoga was the first site in the state to receive it. The park is a strong example of dark sky efforts in action. It has invested in outreach by hosting free events like star parties, where visitors, amateur astronomers, and stargazers gather to look up and appreciate the night sky through telescopes. Since its first star party in September 2022, Watoga has continued to hold these events.
"An estimated attendance of 150 participated, yet the grass space at the base of the tower never felt crowded at all"(Cleaton, 2022).
"This was a huge undertaking involving retrofitting all of the electrified lighting throughout these parks to inhibit light pollution. A grant from First Energy helped to afford the changing of light fixtures on all cabins and roadways within the parks, which is 67% complete"(Cleaton, 2022).
"The application for certification took four years to complete, was 110 pages long and included requirements of four educational programs per year which the Star Party is one. These programs are free to the public"(Cleaton, 2022).
"The Forest Service grant provided one large and one smaller tabletop telescopes, and there are five portable telescopes purchased by the program available to borrow through Pocahontas County libraries and Watoga State Park for overnight guests"(Cleaton, 2022).
“We have many flora and fauna within the park whose health is affected by night darkness. The nocturnal species have improved health and activities in a Dark Sky Park"(Cleaton, 2022).
Watoga State Park is an example of a park that made its dark sky application a priority and turned it into a reality. Working with the Watoga State Park Foundation, the park retrofitted and replaced its intrusive lighting, which reduced light pollution and helped it meet the requirements for Dark Sky Park certification. Watoga was already known for its dark skies, so much of the work focused on protecting them.
One thing that stood out to me about this park was the grant from FirstEnergy that helped pay for new light fixtures on the park's cabins and roadways. By putting its funds toward this effort, the energy company helped the park make the lighting changes that certification required. Certification also requires the park to offer educational programs each year, and Watoga's free events, like its star parties, allow the community to come together, see the night sky, and learn about dark sky advocacy.
The park has also made it easier for people to see the night sky for themselves. Telescopes purchased through the program can be borrowed through Pocahontas County libraries, and the park offers them to overnight guests, allowing more people to see what lies in the dark sky.
Watoga is a great example of how connecting with the community and volunteering to promote missions like dark sky can benefit everyone, including local wildlife.
Reference:
Cleaton, C. (2022, September 7). Star party on Droop a stellar success. West Virginia Daily News. https://wvdn.com/42704/
