Hall County Public Works is installing a four-lane boat ramp at Laurel Park. This will be the first ramp completed under the Governor’s Go Fish Georgia Initiative. Installation of the coffer dam to de-water the lake in this area for the ramps will begin late Thursday morning. Photographers are welcome.

The Laurel Park ramp will be widened to four lanes and extended to 350 feet in length, about 1,048 feet in elevation, to give residents and visitors lake access during drought conditions. The project also will include construction of a fishing tournament staging area, restrooms and additional parking.

The project is a joint venture between Hall County and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with the State of Georgia Governor’s Go Fish Program Grant. The construction of the ramp and associated improvements will cost approximately $1.1 million with DNR offsetting $400,000 of the cost.

Laurel Park is one of 10 mega-ramp sites on a bass fishing trail to lure large fishing tournaments to the state. The Go Fish program is designed to promote and enhance boating and fishing tourism throughout the state as an economic engine. Fishing contributes approximately $1.5 billion to Georgia’s economy each year.

Laurel Park is located off U.S. 129 (Cleveland Highway) north of Gainesville at 3100 Old Cleveland Highway, Gainesville. This 136-acre park is one of the largest scenic parks in Hall County, featuring little league fields, softball fields, playground, sprayground, tennis courts, picnic shelters, a one-mile walking trail and boat ramps.