Graduation Parking: A Word from Royal Oak's Parking Guru

Before you head out the door to attend commencement ceremony Thursday, here is what you need to know about parking from Jay Dunstan — the man coordinating the parking effort for the school district.

The basics

• Parents and students are encouraged to park in the school lots.
• The big grass field at the southeast corner of Normandy and Crooks will be striped and used for parking as well. "It's nice and dry – very solid. I just walked it last night," Dunstan said Wednesday morning.
• According to the , the "no parking" signs on Lexington along the length of the high school will be bagged and available for graduation parking.
• There are approximately 600 paved spots on the high school property, not including Lexington and Normandy. This includes the handicapped spots. The lot directly to the southwest of Ravens Stadium will be saved for people with special needs, though other vehicles may be parked there, depending on the demand for those spaces.
• management is aware of the commencement, but guests and students should not park in that lot.
• The police along with auxiliary staff will direct exiting traffic at the end of the commencement.

Volunteers needed

Staffing the parking lots is done entirely with volunteers.

"We could use maybe five or six more to help with the parking in the big field on the southeast corner of Normandy and Crooks," Dunstan said. "We're going to need people from about 5:15 p.m. until the beginning of commencement at 7 p.m.

If you or someone you know can lend a hand, email Dunstan at info@volunteerroyaloak.org.

Advice from a parking expert

"My advice would be to arrive early and enjoy what is forecast to be a very pleasant evening," Dunstan said. "Please be patient with the volunteers as well. We are there to do our small part in helping make this a very special evening for the graduates and their families. Good luck and go Class of 2012!"