MARQUETTE — The proposal for a local Dark Sky Park overcame a major hurdle when the Presque Isle Park Advisory Committee unanimously passed it Wednesday.

This followed the July 17 approval by the Marquette Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The Marquette Astronomical Society about a year ago first brought up the possibility of a Dark Sky Park on Presque Isle, which would give astronomy buffs, casual stargazers and the public a chance to view the sky without light pollution.

However, city concerns about vandalism and safety on the park, including fatalities in the past, put the proposal on hold until the most recent version of the proposal was put to the advisory board.

It was that proposal PIPAC OK’d Wednesday, although the proposal now must be approved by the Marquette City Commission for it to go into effect.

There would be a trial period from this month through Nov. 1 on Friday and Saturday evenings, with the gate closed during normal park hours at the Pavilion and Gazebo. The lights would be turned off at the Pavilion area for dark sky viewing.

The main gate would be closed by 1 a.m. to extend the park’s normal closing time of 11 p.m. so dark sky enthusiasts could observe for two extra hours.

Marquette Parks and Recreation Coordinator Andrew MacIver, PIPAC’s city liaison, said the city wants to evaluate the Dark Sky Park following the trial period based on police reports. The city also will look at the maintenance aspect and if there are any associated costs.

No additional staff will be added, he said.

“It will just be part of the routine,” MacIver said, with the issue of closing the gate at 1 a.m. having to be addressed.

MAS member Larry Buege, who was instrumental in bringing the proposal to PIPAC, said that in his research he discovered six people have died at Presque Isle Park in the last 25 years. However, there have been no fatalities in the area near the Pavilion and the nearby beach.

He also didn’t believe vandalism would be an issue.

“I’ve talked to five different Dark Sky Park representatives downstate, and it’s big downstate,” Buege said. “They all said vandalism is not a problem.

“Now that seems counterintuitive, but when you think about it, if you’re going to have a beer party, you get out here, and you can’t find your bottle opener in the dark and you can’t see your drinking buddy unless you shine your flashlight in his or her face, that’s not much fun. They’re going to go elsewhere.”

He also pointed out that hikers going to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, for example, don’t see spray-painted rocks on the way up.

“I think that’s what this trial period will show, and I bet that Yoopers are just as well behaved in the sandbox as the trolls,” Buege said.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.