The stars in Breckenridge shine brightly. And they are about to shine even brighter.
DarkSky International honored Breck this week as a Certified Dark Sky Community, making it the first Colorado ski resort town to earn the designation. The Arizona-based group says, “this recognition highlights the town’s commitment to protecting its exceptional alpine nightscape and natural environment for current and future generations.”
Breck and DarkSky agree – light pollution is a bummer for stargazers. It’s one reason people come to the High Country, where on a clear, crisp night you can easily see constellations, planets and the Milky Way.
But what does this honor actually mean for the town and the locals now required to pay for it?
Don’t laugh – calls into the town’s dark sky hotline showed 84% of residents aren’t sure how to be compliant. Just 5% support it. The remainder are opposed.
For starters, this program comes with “lighting zones, shielding requirements, (and) Kelvin and lumen limits.” Main Street Breck, with tens of thousands of holiday lights at Christmas time, is exempt, but just a few blocks away is not. Town staff are checking homes for proper lightbulbs and lighting fixtures. If you do not have them, you must buy them.
According to a statement from the town, becoming dark sky certified is taking care of Mother Earth, and carrying on the good work already being done with recycling, e-bikes and public transportation.
“Breckenridge has long demonstrated environmental leadership,” the statement reads. “The town has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives including the elimination of single-use plastics, recycling and composting programs, community-wide EV, and public e-bike program. Its historic downtown is one of the largest National Registered Historic Districts in Colorado, adding to the charm of its commitment to both preservation and progress.”
Then, there is land and wildlife conservation. DarkSky believes preserving the night skies can benefit the earthbound critters below it.
“(The Breck) open space and trails program, initiated by a voter-approved sales tax in 1997, has invested over $28 million in land acquisition, trail maintenance, and conservation efforts helping ensure year-round access to nature while actively managing wildlife corridors and invasive species,” the statement continues. “These initiatives add to Breckenridge’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”
For most locals, dark sky compliance means money. Unlike open space, the dark sky initiative was approved by town council, not voters, although the town claims this movement is nearly two decades old.
“The journey to reduce light pollution in Breckenridge began in 2007 with the adoption of an exterior lighting ordinance,” the statement reads. “Since 2007, any new construction has been built as Dark Sky compliant, and Breckenridge is now working with residents to have non-compliant lighting meet Dark Sky regulations.”
Today, Aug. 26, from noon to 1:30 p.m., Breck is hosting a dark sky open house at the rec center for questions about what it all means. There’s pizza.