The Fountain Hills Town Council has approved an agreement with the International Dark Sky Discovery Center (IDSDC) for the lease of town-owned property for the construction of the planned 23,000 square-foot facility. The 1.2-acre property is adjacent to the Library/Museum and the Community Garden off the Centennial Circle.
The agreement is for a 50-year lease through Feb. 24, 2074, at a cost of $10 per year. It also provides for a scheduled review of the agreement every five years or as needed to consider the terms and conditions as well as possible amendments related to the lease.
IDSDC is a nonprofit STEM facility in Fountain Hills that is to include a dark sky observatory, hyperspace planetarium, Inspiration Theater, Night Sky Experience exhibit Hall and Einstein Exploration station. The IDSDC states it will fulfill its educational mission by supporting STEM programs and fostering partnerships with Arizona State University, area community colleges and high schools.
