Two hundred parking spots are being removed from one of Madison County’s largest schools for the construction project.

The doors of Sparkman High School are opening to students in just a few days. But, the construction of a major project on campus is starting to pose as a serious issue for those students who drive to school.

A brand new 17 million dollar Fine Arts Center that’s coming to Sparkman High School is creating parking problems. Two hundred parking spots are being removed from one of Madison County’s largest schools for the construction project.

The school officials say they saw this coming and are working to decrease the effects on students. The Madison County School District will be adding 50 new spots in order to help with the shortage and the County Commission is helping to add 50 more in time for the new school year.

That still brings the number of lost parking spots to 100. County officials have said that this realistically means that fewer students will be able to drive to and park on campus this year.

Some are concerned that students will have to resort to parking in nearby neighborhoods in order to continue to drive to school.

We spoke to Sonia Bronson, a longtime resident of a nearby housing complex. She has this to say, “This is the first I’m hearing about it, but as long as it doesn’t impact my coming and going, it wouldn’t bother me.”

She jokingly adds, “As long as they’re going to school and don’t park on my grass! Haha.”

School officials say that they will never encourage students to park in other residential areas. They say that the limited parking space is temporary, and the minor sacrifice of improving the campus for years to come. School officials have attempted to add spaces across the campus property in time for the arrival of students.

Additional spaces for student-use are attempting to be added using areas on the Sparkman Ninth Grade Academy campus and some free space behind the school.

The project is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.