16998 State Road 331
Tippecanoe, IN 46570
**A Dark Sky Preserve**
PRESERVE LOCATION
Rurally located and centered between four local cities with Warsaw 20 miles to the east, Plymouth approximately the same distance to the west, Rochester to the south and Bremen the same distance to the north and farther yet South Bend/Mishawaka to the north of Bremen, Potawatomi Wildlife Park is uniquely positioned to offer relatively dark skies for the region. Classified as Class 4 (Rural/suburban transition) skies utilizing the Bortle classification, the faintest seeing on an excellent night is between 6th and 7th magnitude.
PRESERVE DESCRIPTION
Comprised of 200 acres of upland woods, wetland areas and river bottom, and surrounded by farm land, the property is a not-for-profit nature park managed as a wildlife refuge. Potawatomi Wildlife Park is open dawn to dusk year round with the exception of youth group camping on the property and amateur astronomers observing after dark. Because of the lack of individual campers, the property is optimal for observing at night lacking such intrusions as vehicle headlights, campfires, and other light sources that would interfere with night vision adaptation.
Park/Preserve Management Structure
Currently, a five member board comprised from representatives from the Lions clubs of Bourbon, Etna Green, and Mentone communities and the Kiwanis clubs of Bourbon and Bremen oversees park operations. The current paid staff includes only the “Park Manager” at this time. His duties are to oversee the day to day activities at the park. The current Manager is an amateur astronomer and therefore approachable by those in the hobby. Potawatomi Wildlife Park’s operations are funded through donations and income earned through investments.
Park/Preserve Facilities
The current observing field is adjacent to the main parking lot making it accessible to those who run power from their vehicles. Electrical outlets are located at the observing site for those who need it. General park attendance is mainly from individuals, and groups such as schools that visit the property. Facilities include restrooms adjacent to the parking/observing area which includes a pop machine and drinking fountain, a small nature center, amphitheater, and a small fire ring pavilion.
Development of the Dark Sky Preserve
The current manager of Potawatomi Wildlife Park, being a member of the Warsaw Astronomical Society, saw an opportunity in the mid 1990’s to take advantage of the park’s perceived dark viewing situation and invited members of the Warsaw club to utilize the property for dark sky observing secessions. With the site of the Warsaw clubs’ observatory suffering from major light pollution, the society formed a “new moon group” and made the park the site for their dark sky observing sessions.
The management of the park, seeing the value of the observing opportunities and with the support of the governing board of directors, made steps to manage the property as a “dark sky preserve”. To make the property observer friendly, all barn yard style security lights were removed early on. Other steps were also taken to make the property more dark sky friendly.
Current Lighting Conditions on the Property
Currently the only public lighting that exists on the property is fully shielded in the case of one Regency brand model RSM100 security fixture lighting the restroom area. Sofit lighting also exist, lighting the one sidewalk leading to the nature center with minimum wattage lighting. A memorial containing three flag poles is lit with two narrow spot lights that has a dimmer switch in-line to produce only adequate lighting to illuminate the flags but not light the actual flag poles. In the case of the flag memorial, the Regency security light, and the sofit sidewalk lighting, a breaker panel is mounted at the flag pole memorial that trips all outside lighting when observing is conducted making the observing site 100% free of all outside lighting. All future development plans for additional buildings call for “dark sky” friendly lighting mainly in the form of sofit lighting.
While the managers’ residence is located on the property, most interior lighting from the managers’ residence is blocked by blinds. Outside lighting for the residence is motion activated. Low voltage lighting is utilized to illuminate the sidewalk of the managers’ residence only when visitors are expected at the residence.
Commitment to Light Pollution Prevention on the
Property
In a recent vote, the Board of Directors of Potawatomi Wildlife Park voted to continue the management of the property as a “dark sky preserve” committing to the continuation of steps to preserve the night time ascetics of the property as well as encouraging the utilization of the property by amateur astronomers
Who is Observing at the Park
Currently the property is utilized by members of the Warsaw Astronomical society, Michiana Astronomical Society, Wabash Valley Astronomical Society, Ft. Wayne Astronomical Society (to a lesser extent), local hobbyist, and one high school astronomy class. Additional inquiries have been made by members of the Calumet Astronomical Society, and individuals from both inside Indiana as well as surrounding states. The idea of offering a star party has also been discussed.
Inquiries about observing opportunities can be e-mailed to park@getintonature.com. A dark sky Clock, providing weather for potential observers can be found on the park web site at www.getintonature.com. The “Star Gazing” section of the web site contains the Clock as well as GIF maps of Indiana and other pollution related information.
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