Construction of a new elementary school on Swickard Woods Boulevard is reshaping where New Albany-Plain Local Schools students can park this fall, and the city is urging families to prepare before the first bell rings Aug. 19.

Student parking on Swickard Woods Boulevard is now limited because of the K-2 building under construction at 7650 Swickard Woods Blvd., where crews broke ground Feb. 24. The school is expected to be finished by November 2027.

Students who can no longer park on Swickard Woods have two options: the public lot near the Safety Town site or a New Albany-Plain Local Schools parking pass for the Church of the Resurrection lot. The city did not list a price for the pass.

Market Square remains off-limits to student vehicles during the school day. No exceptions. The ban covers all students, including those who work at or belong to businesses there, including the Philip Heit Center. Vehicles violating posted "Customer and Employee Only" signs are subject to citation.

New Albany Police officers will patrol the area during the first several days of school to educate students and enforce the parking rules. In an April 24 City Scene Columbus article about e-bike safety near schools, NAPD Officer L.A. Kelly said parents should "be firm with their own in-house consequences, especially if their child has already received a warning from NAPD."

The city's back-to-school notice, authored by Konner Barr on Aug. 5, also reminds drivers to slow down in school zones, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass a stopped school bus with its arm extended and red lights flashing.

One more timing note for commuters: SR-605 (New Albany-Condit Road), closed since June 1 for streetscape work, is scheduled to reopen Aug. 18, one day before classes begin. The city said the closure was timed over summer specifically to avoid disrupting school bus routes.