People can give suggestions for future management of the South Unit of Badlands National Park at 13 open-house meetings next month.

Alternative management plans will be developed by the National Park Service after examining public comments from the meetings, as well as those submitted through the mail and on the park and NPS Web sites, and through consulting with others.

The plan is expected to take up to three years to complete.

When finished, the General Management Plan will describe the general direction the NPS will follow in managing the South Unit for the next 15 to 20 years, according to a Park Service news release.

The South Unit of Badlands National Park, which is on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, holds natural resources including spectacular scenery, mixed-grass prairie and wildlife.

The South Unit is also historically significant to the Lakota people.

Anyone interested in learning more about the planning activities at the South Unit may attend one of the open houses or call the park at 605-433-5361.

Written comments or information should be directed to: Superintendent, Badlands National Park, P.O. Box 6, 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750 or the Badlands National Park Web site www.nps.gov/badl or parkplanning.nps.gov.

Following is a list of the meetings and their locations:

Monday, April 7

- Red Shirt, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Shannon School

Tuesday, April 8

- Oglala, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Community Action Program office

Wednesday, April 9

- Manderson, noon to 4 p.m., Community Action Program office

- Rapid City, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Hotel Alex Johnson, 523 Sixth St.

Thursday, April 10

- Wall, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wall Community Center, 601 Main St.

Friday, April 11

- Batesland, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., College Center

Monday, April 14

- Pine Ridge, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Pine Ridge Village Community Action Program office

- Allen, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pass Creek Community Action Program office

Tuesday, April 15

- Martin, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Lacreek Community Action Program office

- Wanblee, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Crazy Horse School

Wednesday, April 16

- Kyle, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Medicine Root Community Action Program office.

Thursday, April 17

- Wounded Knee, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Community Action Program office

Friday, April 18

- Porcupine, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Community Action Program office