MACKINAW CITY- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials have finished the design for a Mackinaw State Harbor and are asking for public comment during an open house Wednesday.

The open house will run from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the village of Mackinaw City office located at 102 S. Huron St. DNR Parks and Recreation staff will be on hand for the duration of the open house to answer questions and explain various design features.

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The new Mackinaw State Harbor, which is the redevelopment of the old state car ferry dock, will add up to 129 transient slips and include harbor buildings, floating piers, roads, parking, pedestrian walkways and many environmentally friendly, sustainable design elements, explained Ron Olson, chief of the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division.

Thanks to a cutting-edge energy efficiency design, the facility will be much cheaper to run.

“We are proud to announce the new green design at this facility,” said Olson. “We are considering up to eight small-scale wind turbines, the first in the state, which will provide up to 80 percent of the electrical demands to operate the harbor.”

During the open house the DNR staff will also encourage the public to provide input and ideas for the redevelopment of the east end of the dock, referred to as “the triangle” and formerly the ferry loading and unloading area.

The renovation of the triangle won't get started until the Mackinaw State Harbor is finished.

“Public input and awareness of this important project is crucial to achieve an effective harbor design for the future,” said Olson.

This project is designed to better serve the boating public in Michigan, which is among the nation's leaders in registered watercraft with nearly 1 million.

Funding for this project is provided by the Michigan State Waterways Fund, which is comprised of revenues received from boat registrations and marine fuel taxes. These revenues are dedicated by state law to be used for the benefit of boating.