Gainesville's Thompson Bridge Park will be closed next week for paving and striping, reopening on Saturday.

Sean Cummings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it's about time the popular boat launch spot had some work done to it. Recently the park was outfitted with new bathrooms.

"We're just kind of rehabilitating the park," Cummings said. Both projects are funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

The road leading into the park, as well as the parking lot and boat ramp, will all get fresh asphalt. After the asphalt cures, workers will paint stripes on the new pavement.

Because the park will be closed for five days, the corps is able to combine what would be a two-part project.

"We're keeping it closed for the entire week so that we're not having to shut it down two separate times," Cummings said.

The timing of the park's closing was mainly to do with the schedules of the pavers and stripers.

While the park is undergoing paving, boaters can use nearby Sardis Creek Park, located off Antioch Church Road, or Wahoo Creek Boat Ramp, off Mount Vernon Road. Both parks are also operated by the corps.

"These are the two closest boat ramps," Cummings said.

Despite not having picnic tables, the park's lake views make it a popular spot for lunch, with 30,000 people visiting each year.

It is one of 48 parks the corps operates and maintains on Lake Lanier.