Colorado town of Frisco certified as International Dark Sky Community

The Colorado town of Frisco has been certified as an International Dark Sky Community, which recognizes the community's commitment to preventing light pollution.

The town says many components go into protecting its dark skies, including strong lighting policies, public education, community support, night sky monitoring and long-term stewardship.

"Achieving International Dark Sky Community certification is an important step in protecting Frisco's natural environment and preserving the magic of a night sky in the mountains. We look forward to continuing our work with community members and businesses to further reduce light pollution and ensure future generations can experience the beauty of a darker sky and stargazing," stated Frisco Mayor Rick Ihnken.

Town officials said it's important to maintain effective ground lighting without causing excessive light pollution. They achieve that by targeting the light downward, using shielding and directing light only where it's needed. Things like using warm-toned lights, timers, and lower brightness levels also help.