LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — A petition effort is underway to overturn Michigan’s ban on state-designated dark sky preserves in the Upper Peninsula.

Michigan law currently bans the creation of state-run dark sky preserves in the UP, despite its exceptionally low light pollution and reputation as one of the best stargazing destinations in the country. Advocates, including members of the “Protect the Porkies” campaign, recently gathered more than 3,000 signatures in support of lifting the restriction, according to Bridge Michigan. 

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While Michigan has 10 designated dark sky locations, only one—Keweenaw Mountain Lodge—is in the Upper Peninsula. Unlike state-recognized preserves, Keweenaw’s designation comes from DarkSky International and applies only to private land, leaving UP state parks without the same protections or promotional benefits.

Proponents of the change say lifting the ban would allow for official recognition of areas like Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, which they say meets the criteria for a dark sky preserve. They have also pointed to potential tourism benefits and regulations on artificial lighting as reasons for the designation.

“We have people coming to the Keweenaw Peninsula just to access our dark skies, not just from the Midwest but across the country,” Brad Barnett, executive director of Visit Keweenaw, said.

State Sen. Ed McBroom, who represents most of the UP, supported the original ban in 2012, saying that dark sky preserves could lead to land-use restrictions. 

He has since said he would consider revisiting the issue if “it would be something that that local area wanted and not something that was pushed on them by a department or bureaucracy.”