Update parking lot on its way to local elementary school

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Area Public Schools District has been in the process of various projects this summer.

One specific project has been the renovation of the parking lot at Sandy Knoll Elementary School. The goal of this project is to create two separate parking lots, one for buses and the other for families. This updated parking arrangement was modeled after other local elementary schools, such as Cherry Creek and Superior Hills. The previous parking lot faced several safety issues for drivers and students.

“Previously the bus loop and parents drop off were in the front of the building and as folks parked on both sides of the street, it made it extremely difficult,” said MAPS Superintendent Bill Saunders. “It was really one lane of traffic and the buses were going down the street. A lot of the kids were getting out near the street side and some near collisions, those types of things.”

The updated parking lots that include extra parking spaces are set to be done in the middle of August, just in time for the school year. Other renovations happening throughout Marquette County are moving along swimmingly, such as the updating of the Graveraet Elementary cafeteria. According to the MAPS agenda for the upcoming board meeting, details on an updated local football field will be discussed.