The Department of Natural Resources today announced that a public open house will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located at 500 W. Fletcher St. in Alpena to get public input on the proposed, long-range action goals for Negwegon State Park in Alcona County, the Rockport property in Alpena County and Thompson's Harbor State Park in Presque Isle County.

Combined, these three parks provide more than 13,100 acres of public property, with over 22 miles of shoreline on Lake Huron. They hold some of the state's unique and protected natural and cultural resources and provide varied recreational and educational opportunities.

Phase 1 General Management Plans for all three parks were approved in October 2008. This open house will focus on the Phase 2 level of planning, which identifies specific action goal recommendations based on Phase 1 plans. The open house will provide an overview of the planning process, present the long-range action goal recommendations for each park, and encourage attendees to ask questions and provide input about the parks and the recommendations. There also will be an opportunity to provide input on "Regional Long-Range Action Goals," as relates to all three parks.

The planning process is being facilitated by the firm of Birchler Arroyo Associates, who will participate with state officials in conducting the open house. For more information about these parks and the Phase 1 General Management Plans for each park, contact Paul Curtis, management plan administrator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, at (517) 335-4832, or visit Birchler Arroyo's Web site at www.birchlerarroyo.com.

Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for this open house should contact Paul Curtis a minimum of five working days before the workshop. Requests made less than five days before the meeting may not be accommodated.