"Star Wars" creator George Lucas and prominent Chicago businesswoman Mellody Hobson have an extravagant wedding reception planned along the lakefront this weekend — and it appears the public must sacrifice to ensure the force is with them on their special day.

The Chicago Park District will close Promontory Point on Saturday in anticipation of the power couple's reception there that evening. The point, which juts into the lake off 55th Street, is popular with picnickers, dog walkers and swimmers in the summer. Its iconic 76-year-old field house also has long been a prime location for weddings.

Nearby residents received a letter this week from the park district informing them of the closing. Two parking lots — including one just south of the Museum of Science and Industry — also will be closed to the public until noon Sunday because of the party. The museum says its main parking area, an underground garage, will be open as usual.

And only reception guests will be able to use the field house bathrooms Saturday, despite a park district policy posted online that states that the bathrooms remain open to the public when the facilities are rented out for private events.

The pedestrian tunnel under Lake Shore Drive that leads to the park received a fresh coat of paint this week. A park district spokeswoman said taxpayers were not footing the bill for any of the work being done for the reception, specifically pointing to the large pavilion being raised and paid for by the newlyweds.

But when shown a Tribune photo of a sign reading, "Wet Paint, Chicago Park District" on the tunnel wall Thursday, spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulkner conceded that the paint work was "likely" paid for by the park district because it was on public land.

After the Tribune contacted Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office with questions about the fresh paint, the park district acknowledged that it had paid for the work.

"The painting is part of our general repair and maintenance," Faulkner said. "The Chicago Park District budgeted $2.1 million for repair and maintenance for the 2013 budget. This is just one of many maintenance projects going on at parks throughout the city."

Preparations for Saturday's party have sparked great interest in the neighborhood, as private crews have spent this week erecting a large tent, planting shrubbery and hanging lights.

Park officials would not provide information about permits or work orders granted for the site, saying that information would be disclosed only through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Maxey-Faulkner denied any connection between the timing of the tunnel being painted and the mayor's long-standing friendship with Hobson, who has donated more than $30,000 to his campaign coffers in recent years. President of Chicago-based Ariel Investments, Hobson also is a member of World Business Chicago, the quasi-public group that helps shape the mayor's economic development strategy.

"That is absurd," Maxey-Faulkner said.

She said it was a coincidence that Hobson is the first bride of this wedding season to benefit from the freshly painted tunnel.

"It happens all the time. In fact, when the weather is nice is when it's best," Maxey-Faulkner said. "You could go check out any park (right now), and you'll see work going on."

Lucas and Hobson, who is also chairwoman of Dreamworks Animation, were married last weekend at the filmmaker's Skywalker Ranch in northern California. Director Ron Howard described the ceremony, which was officiated by journalist Bill Moyers, as "a joy to behold" and "nothing short of profound" on Twitter.

Their 200-person guest list also included Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Samuel L. Jackson and Harrison Ford, according to People magazine.

The Chicago guests have been asked not to speak about the reception, though ongoing preparations at Promontory Point suggest a lavish event for a large number of people. Construction crews said the pavilion will feature a balcony, two bars and a full kitchen.

The reception is being overseen by New York party planner Van Wyck & Van Wyck, whose website states that it has organized events for A-list clients such as Sean Combs, Alicia Keys, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, and the queen of Jordan.

A spokeswoman for Lucas and Hobson declined to comment, saying the reception was a "private" matter.

Residents had mixed reactions to what was going on in the park.

"I was like, 'What is this, the Ringling Brothers Circus?'" said Nancy Olivi, of Hyde Park, in reference to a huge tent she saw going up in the middle of Promontory Point. "I thought they were ruining my park."

Olivi's attitude changed when she found out from neighbors that the event was for Lucas and Hobson's reception. Now, Olivi said, she is disappointed she won't be able to watch socialites stream into the park from her window.

"You know it's somebody big," she said. "I'm just sorry I'm leaving town."

Tribune reporters Naomi Nix and Stacy St. Clair contributed.

kgeiger@tribune.com

jmdelgado@tribune.com