--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
Without improvements such as a structure or toilets, there is no "dark sky site", just a star-party location. You don't need any money for that.
This is what I meant by no shared vision. It means different things to different people.
A dark-sky site should be accessable for all 4 seasons, leaving out much of the mountains in Utah.
Chuck
Chuck, I think you ar 100% correct abut no real vision. SPOC2 has been put in place by people who have a vision, and are willing to do whatever it takes to see the vision put in place. Siegfried has asked the Dark Sky Committee to present a plan, and thus far none has come forth. Lacking a plan, and seeing no progress towards having one, it is only logical for Siegfried to make the comments he has made. I am not an oponent of a dark site. I would like to see such a thing happen. Neither am I for it enough to step forward and make it happen. I do think it would be a mistake to absorb those funds, though. I would love to see someone step forward who is a BIG PROPONENT of a dark sky site. That person would have a vision of what it should be, and will lead others to accomplish that vision. He would, as a leader, also listen to those around and modify his vision to satisfy the others who would use the site. His attitude should be: "Lead, follow or get out of the way!". This is the kind of person needed to make a dark site a reality. I am not convinced that there need to have "improvements" like the ones you mention to begin with. Some would certainly come with time, but those who use the dark sky site should decide what they are. Arbitrary statements of accepptability really have got to be tempered by the users' thoughts. The same is true about the site. The mountains ARE indeed accessible year round with the right equipment. It might be that this equipment is more important initially than the improvemnents are. I do know that the road up Farmington Canyon is open to automobile traffic year round. It is kept that way for maintenance of the radar installations on Farmington Peak. This road provides access to some areas where there are already long term land leases and moderately dark skies. Security issues can also be mitigated. Things do not need to be expensive to be secure. A shipping container is inexpensive, yet VERY secure. I guess my real message is to that individual who is VERY interested in the dark sky site. Where there is a will, there is a way. If you have a vision, stand up and share that vision. Take responsibility, and be willing to sacrifice to get what you want. IT IS POSSIBLE, in spite of whatever negative comments may come along. (No offense intended to anyone who has already responded.) Respectfully, Brent
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