Without putting the cart too far in front of the horse, the proposed Dark Sky Discovery Center sounds like the kind of project that could evolve into a big win for Fountain Hills.

It’s an ambitious project, to be sure, but it also has the backing of a dedicated group of community volunteers who have clearly done their homework. The last project to boast that kind of backing was the Community Garden, which just so happens to be flourishing and benefiting Fountain Hills in numerous ways.

Taking advantage of Fountain Hills’ Dark Sky designation, the Discovery Center would serve as a gateway to the stars, including a telescope observatory, planetarium, exhibit hall and more. The Dark Sky community is already growing and thriving in Fountain Hills with several activities and educational events hosted throughout the year, so just imagine what a facility like the Discovery Center could add to the mix.

Facilities like this don’t really exist around the Valley, forcing enthusiasts to hop in the car and head up to towns like Flagstaff to get their fix. And then there are the educational benefits a Discovery Center would afford to local students, not to mention interest already being shown at the collegiate level.

And then there’s the proposed location, right alongside the local museum, library, Community Garden, Community Center, art aplenty and Town Hall, all of which is just a short stroll from Fountain Park. It’s an ideal location to bolster the heart of downtown while helping serve as a draw to both locals as well as visitors from around the Valley.

The Discovery Center team came to the Council last week with a comprehensive feasibility study already conducted and they expect to have more complete plans worked up in the coming months. There’s a lot of fundraising that needs to be done, but a unique project like this has the potential to turn some heads.

With a little luck accompanying all of the hard work we’re already seeing, it’s difficult not to get excited about a potential Dark Sky Discovery Center becoming yet another amenity to keep Fountain Hills on the map.