AUGUSTA — The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, part of the Department of Conservation, is holding a public scoping session Thursday as a first step in preparing a management plan for several state properties, according to a release issued by the agency Monday.

The properties in the plan are associated with the Pineland Public Land Unit in Gray, North Yarmouth and New Gloucester; Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal; and the publicly held properties, easements, and trail licenses linking the two.

The public session will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 1, at the Pownal Elementary School, 587 Elmwood Road, Pownal.

State officials hope that people representing a broad spectrum of interests, including recreation, conservation, tourism and business, will attend the scoping session and become engaged in the planning process, according to Rex Turner, Bureau of Parks and Lands outdoor recreation planner.

All those interested  are welcome to come and learn about the planning context and process, the release states. Participants will be encouraged to share their vision for the management of the properties as part of this planning effort.

Updates and information are available online at the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands planning page at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/index.html.

For more information about the planning process, contact  Turner at  623-4514 or e-mail: rex.turner@maine.gov