RAPID CITY, S.D. – City leaders and local organizations gathered in Council Chambers as Mayor Jason Salamun signed a proclamation designating April 13 through April 20 as Dark Sky Week in Rapid City.

Members of the local International Dark Sky Chapter, Badlands Conservancy and the Rapid City Sustainability Committee attended the event, which focused on raising awareness about the importance of protecting night skies and reducing light pollution.

As part of the proclamation, the city recognized the value of dark skies in inspiring interest in science and nature, particularly among young people. The proclamation also highlighted the role of nearby destinations such as Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest in attracting visitors to the region.

City officials noted that light pollution from urban areas can create skyglow that impacts visibility in those locations. The proclamation emphasized efforts within Rapid City to address those impacts, including past community events such as the city’s first lights out event held in 2016.

Dark Sky Week in Rapid City is intended to encourage residents to participate in activities, pledges and awareness efforts aimed at preserving the visibility of the night sky.

During the event, the group presented Mayor Salamun with a time-lapse photograph showing a star-filled sky above the Badlands, recognizing the natural resource the proclamation seeks to protect.

The proclamation was officially signed earlier this year and designates the week as a time for residents to focus on reducing light pollution and appreciating the night skies across the Black Hills region.