Highland Park Elementary Parking Lot Instructions – Revised September 2025
We worked very hard at the end of the 2024 – 2025 school year developing and reinforcing changes to our parking lot all in an effort to improve the safety of our children and the flow of traffic especially during our busiest times – morning drop off (7:40 – 8:00) and afternoon pick up (1:50 – 2:10). Changes included additional signage, additional parking stalls, more crosswalks, and more arrows to reinforce the direction. It is important that EVERYONE in our school community cooperates to ensure the safety of our children and a steady flow of traffic. Please ensure that anyone you have left in charge to pick up and or drop off your child is familiar with these instructions.
If you are not using our Kiss and Ride Lane for drop off and pick up and therefore, are looking to park, please consider using the IPE grounds for additional parking at these busy times. In addition, to reduce the demand for parking spaces at these busy times, if at all possible, we encourage parents to please consider walking your children to and from school, riding bikes or scooters to and from school, and using the Kiss and Ride Lane. It is important to use the cross walks provided as you make your way from your vehicle to the school grounds and vice versa.
It is important that drivers make space for two lanes of traffic along the Kiss and Ride area until the tall cone or delineator at the cross walk by the gate. The lane to the LEFT of the delineator is the THROUGH LANE. The lane to the RIGHT is the KISS AND RIDE LANE. Please be sure to keep this in mind, especially when pulling out of the Kiss and Ride Lane and entering into the Through Lane, so you don’t inadvertently block vehicles from accessing the Kiss and Ride Lane AND their ability to pull up to the very end of the kiss and ride lane for pick up and drop off. Pulling up to the very end of the Kiss and Ride Lane allows other drivers to follow suit. Drives are asked to pull up as close as possible to the driver ahead of them to maximize the space available for additional vehicles. IF you find yourself at the very end of the Kiss and Ride Lane, when ready to exit, instead of merging left into the Through Lane, continue ahead alongside the Through Lane to the stop line. During busy times where a right hand ONLY turn onto Wood Avenue is allowed (7:40 – 8:00 am and 1:50 – 2:10 pm), vehicles may find they need to merge, like a zipper, being careful not to block busses. Outside of these busy times, if turning left at the stop line, keep to the very left at the stop line so vehicles turning right have room to do so.
Never double park to pick up or drop off your child. DO NOT PARK BLOCKING THE CROSSWALKS. Do not leave your vehicle while in the Kiss and Ride lane. Please remain in your vehicle in the Kiss and Ride Lane at both pick up and drop off (unless of course your little one needs help with their cart seat) and be ready to move forward in the Kiss and Ride Lane as cars ahead of you pull out and into the Through Lane to exit the parking lot. If there is no room in the Kiss and Ride Lane, continue to loop around until room becomes available. If you are waiting in the Kiss and Ride Lane too long, you will be asked to leave and loop around the parking lot so others can access the Kiss and Ride Lane.
Please be quick in the Kiss and Ride Lane. Please ensure your children are exiting from the passenger side of the vehicle so they are not opening the car door and unloading into the Through Lane traffic.
In an effort to prevent vehicles from having to turn around in tight spaces and back out into congested traffic, we have designated STAFF ONLY parking areas. Please do not enter the road that leads to the daycare as this area is designated for staff, disability parking permit holders and daycare parking and traffic only. In addition, please do not park in the angled parking spaces as these too are designated as STAFF ONLY.
In short:
- Allow space for two lanes of traffic along the kiss and ride lane. One for Kiss and Ride and one for Through traffic. Imagine a center line and stick to one side of it. This ensures people behind you can access the Kiss and Ride Lane and pull up to the very end at all times.
- When using the kiss and ride lane for pick up or drop off, use your signal and pull up to the very end of the Kiss and Ride Lane and signal to enter back in the through lane. Be quick, stay in your vehicle, have children load and unload on the passenger side of the vehicle using the sidewalk, not from the Through lane. As vehicles in front of you exit the Kiss and Ride Lane, drive ahead in the Kiss and Ride Lane to maximize the space available.
- Turn right ONLY onto Wood Avenue during our busiest times (7:40 – 8:00 AM and 1:50 – 2:10 PM). Outside of these times, two vehicles can fit at the stop line if the vehicle turning left keeps to the very left of the line.
- Do not park in staff designated areas during our busy times (see picture below). This prevents the need to turn around and back up into congested areas. The road leading to the back of the daycare is for staff parking, accessible parking permit holders and daycare traffic ONLY.
- Use crosswalks only, especially with your children. Especially to cross the two lanes of traffic – the Kiss and Ride and Through Lane.