JEKYLL ISLAND — Visitors to Jekyll Island may find parking more difficult this year.

Jekyll Island Authority officials say about 1,200 parking spots have been lost because of construction projects on the state-owned island.

Taking up many of those spaces at the beach-front is the construction of a 128,000-square-foot oceanfront convention center. It's expected to be completed by mid-2012.

Erica England, communications specialist with the authority, says there are more than 400 spaces in the lot near the Jekyll Island Bookstore and the temporary convention center in the historic district.

There also are 200 spaces at Great Dunes Park, just north of the front beach convention construction zone.

England says parking will not interfere with the annual Beach Music Festival in August and the Shrimp and Grits festival in the fall.