JONESTOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The city of Jonestown is the latest community to be commended for its efforts to reduce light pollution.
The city has been officially designated a ‘Dark Sky Community’ by DarkSky International, a non-profit that works to preserve and protect the nighttime environment by advocating for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.
Jonestown is the ninth city in Texas to receive the designation. In total, 18 locations are now Dark Sky Places, including cities, state and national parks and wildlife management areas.
Other local cities to earn the designation include Bee Cave, Blanco, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Horseshoe Bay and Wimberley.
“As our community grew, we realized our night skies needed protection from increasing light pollution,” Mayor Paul Johnson said. “The city decided an improved lighting ordinance was necessary — an ordinance that would address light pollution and protect our night sky heritage.”
New construction and all existing city, business and residential lighting must comply with the ordinance, which was adopted in 2021.
A volunteer committee, the Jonestown Night Sky Advocacy (JNSA), was also created to educate residents on the importance of preserving the night sky and the environmental benefits doing so can have.
“Earning an International Dark Sky Community certification is extremely rewarding, but it is only a beginning,” the group said in a statement. “Heritage preservation is an ongoing, never-ending effort.”
The group created an inventory of lighting across the city using light meters, mapping programs and monitors. The inventory helps evaluate compliance with the ordinance as well as identify where improvements need to be made.
“The dedication by my fellow advocates is overwhelming,” said Lecia Ellis with JNSA. “Through their actions, citizens recognize and understand light pollution and, more importantly, what can be done to improve it.
Cities must go through a rigorous application process to earn the Dark Sky designation, including extensive outdoor light evaluations and educational workshops to promote the benefits of being a Dark Sky community.
Flagstaff, Arizona, was the first place to receive the designation in 2001. Since then, more than 200 places across 22 countries have earned the ‘Dark Sky Place’ title.
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