TUPELO – The National Park Service and the Chickasaw Nation seek comment on the proposed Chickasaw Museum and Cultural Center.

The partners have a public meeting Jan. 30 in Tupelo and another one Feb. 5 in Oklahoma.

At the meetings, representatives will discuss the proposal to establish a museum and cultural center at the Chickasaw Village site along the Natchez Trace Parkway near the McCullough Boulevard exit in Tupelo.

The parkway has $1.1 million allocated to the planning, design and environmental phase. The rest of the project does not have funding yet.

Parkway officials, when announcing the partnership last May, said they hoped to see a 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot center, along with various indoor and outdoor exhibits. The upgraded site will be retooled to have bathrooms, water fountains, better parking and more visitor amenities.

The public meetings will be held in an informal open house format where staff will be available to answer questions. Information will be available regarding preliminary alternatives, site characteristics, impact topics and project purpose and need.

The first meeting is Jan. 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center in Tupelo.

The second meeting is Feb. 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Chickasaw Nation headquarters in Ada, Okla.

Comments also may be submitted online (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/natr_ea_newsletter) or by mail (Superintendent, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS 38804) until Feb. 28.

For more information, contact the parkway at (662) 680-4005.

carlie.wells@journalin.com