Riverside adopts nighttime light environment report, explores Dark Sky goals

The Riverside Board on May 21 adopted a nighttime light environment report prepared by consultant Ken Walac that inventories village lighting, identifies high-emitting properties, and recommends steps toward responsible outdoor lighting and a possible Dark Sky Community designation.

Walac told trustees that residential parcels are the largest aggregate emitter but that just 37 parcels account for roughly 50% of the measured light emission. He recommended three principal steps: apply Dark Sky principles (shielding, proper aim, appropriate intensity), codify standards into village ordinances to prevent drift, and run community outreach and incentive programs so residents buy in.

Walac highlighted common problem fixtures such as unshielded wall packs and improperly tilted area lights that create upward emissions and light trespass; he cited the Village's Pine Street fire station as an example contrasting a non-shielded wall pack with an appropriate shielded fixture.

Trustees asked about safety implications. Walac and trustees said proper lighting design can maintain or improve safety while reducing wasted and ecologically harmful upward light. Trustee Evans asked whether the Illuminating Engineering Society would support banning unshielded wall packs; Walac said he would consult his professional contacts.

Why it matters: adopting the report positions Riverside to partner on ordinances and targeted mitigation that could preserve night skies, reduce ecological impacts, and align public lighting upgrades with the village's environmental goals.

Next steps: staff will pursue the Planning & Zoning and ordinance development processes and convene community engagement as recommended in the report.