Bob Parks

Submitted by vern on January 25, 2011 - 4:53pm
Title: 
Executive Director, International Dark Sky Association
Photo of Bob Parks executive director of International Dark Sky Association

Bob Parks is founder of the Virginia Outdoor Lighting Taskforce (VOLT), an all-volunteer, non-profit, grassroots advocacy group since 2000. Its mission is to promote safe and efficient outdoor lighting. VOLT has been successful helping localities in Virginia to enact lighting ordinances and was instrumental in the passage of legislation to require that all state facilities purchase only full cut-off fixtures.

 

Mr. Parks is an avid amateur astronomer and past president of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, the largest of its kind in the United States. He has been a member of International Dark-Sky Association since 2000. In 2005, he founded the Almost Heaven Star Party at Spruce Knob, WV, one of the darkest observing sites on the East Coast.

 

In March of 2009, Mr. Parks joined IDA to launch the Washington Office for Public Policy and Government Affairs. As managing director, he was charged with keeping Congress and federal agencies up-to-date regarding IDA’s mission and its issues. In addition, he is working to build a coalition of environmental and energy organizations that have parallel goals to reduce light pollution, conserve energy, and preserve the natural environment.

 

In June 2010 the IDA Board appointed Mr. Parks as Executive Director.