Meetings on Badlands future start this week

By Journal staff | Sunday, April 06, 2008

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The public is invited to 13 open-house meetings to learn about and comment on a plan for the future management of the South Unit of Badlands National Park.

The following meetings will be held:

Red Shirt: Monday, April 7, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Shannon School 

Oglala: Tuesday, April 8, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oglala Community Action Program center

Manderson: Wednesday, April 9, noon to 4 p.m., Community Action Program center

Rapid City: Wednesday, April 9, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Alex Johnson Hotel

Wall: Thursday, April 10, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wall Community Center, 601 Main St.

Batesland: Friday, April 11, 2 p.m to 4 p.m. College Center

Pine Ridge: Monday, April 14, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Pine Ridge Village Community Action Program center

Allen: Monday, April 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Pass Creek Community Action Program center

Martin:  Tuesday, April 15, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Lacreek Community Action Program center

Wanblee: Tuesday, April 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Crazy Horse School

Kyle: Wednesday, April 16, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Medicine Root Community Action Program center

Wounded Knee: Thursday, April 17, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wounded Knee Community Action Program center

Porcupine: Friday, April 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Porcupine Community Action Program center

The South Unit of Badlands National Park, which is located on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, holds some of the region's most valued natural resources, including scenery, mixed-grass prairie and wildlife. The South Unit is also historically significant to the Oglala Sioux people.

Following these meetings, the a planning team will develop preliminary alternatives after examining the public comments from the meetings, submitted through the mail and on the park and NPS Web sites and consulting with others. The plan is expected to take about three years to complete.

When finalized, this General Management Plan will describe the general direction the NPS will follow in managing the South Unit for the next 15 to 20 years.

Anyone interested in learning more about the planning activities at the South Unit is welcome to attend one of the open houses or call the park at 433-5361.

Written comments or information should be directed to: Superintendent, Badlands National Park, PO Box 6, 25216 Ben Reifel Rd., Interior, South Dakota 57750 or on the Badlands National Park Web site at www.nps.gov/badl or at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.