Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - After more than 20 parks were set to close on Lake Lanier because of limited staffing, now only 11 will temporarily shut down ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend.

When the closures were announced, Scott Daughters and his dog Beau got a rude awakening on Wednesday while walking at Tidwell Park on Lake Lanier.

“It’s just a shame. I don’t know what we are going to do,” Daughters said.

His favorite park for the past 23 years was closed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers placed barricades and signs at the entrance to keep people out.

“There are a lot of families that come down here and use this on the weekends, summertime, during the week, family picnics, all the boats, jet skis,” Daughters said. “I don’t know where they’re going to go.”

At first, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it would be closing 20 recreational parks on Lake Lanier until further notice, citing limited staffing.

“With the current hiring freeze to shrink the overall federal workforce, we have not been able to bring on summer hires nor backfill employees that took the option for the deferred resignation,” the Corps’ public spokesperson, Dustin Gautney, told Atlanta News First.

Perhaps one of the biggest concerns for many people will be the lack of boat ramps for people to access the water.

“There is not going to be enough parking available for boat or trailer parking,” Daughters said. “A lot of people use this lake for recreation, and there are going to be a lot of people unhappy, me included.”

But on Thursday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said only 11 sites would be temporarily closed on Lake Lanier ahead of Memorial Day weekend following public outcry and action from lawmakers.

Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde said he pushed the Corps to “reach a more acceptable solution” once he found out about the closures.

“I’m pleased that more Lake Lanier boat ramps will be open, and only 11 recreational sites will be temporarily closed,” he said in a statement. “I encourage folks to plan ahead accordingly, stay safe, and enjoy Memorial Day weekend on Lake Lanier.”

Sen. Raphael Warnock called the update “welcome news.”

“But because of this administration’s reckless cuts, parks are still slated to be indefinitely closed,” he added. “We must continue to speak out: Enough is enough with these reckless cuts. Georgia families deserve better.”

The temporarily closed parks are:

• Burton Mill
• Old Federal Day Use
• Keith’s Bridge
• Robinson
• Little Hall
• Two Mile
• Little River
• Van Pugh North
• Long Hollow
• Van Pugh South
• Mountain View

The Corps has created an interactive map showing which parks are currently open and closed. Click here for a full list of the planned park closures.

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