A park that receives Dark Sky Park accreditation must not only commit to conserving night sky visibility, but must also conduct public education programs on the benefits of dark skies. Newport State Park plans to host a minimum of four night sky activity programs per year, so that the public can actively experience and learn about the benefits of dark skies at night. Additional outreach initiatives will serve to further raise awareness.
The designation has already lead to increased interest in the park as a site for stargazing. Newport plans to welcome this new influx of visitors as they enhance the existing tourism cohort, who enjoy a minimally developed park from ground to sky.