[UPDATE]

Protesters are speaking out against a contruction project at a local school.

Developers are building a new parking lot in the back of Kate Sullivan Elementary School in Tallahassee.

Monday morning, residents from the nearby neighborhood, Old Town, showed up to the site with protest signs.

They say they will lose their privacy with the parking lot, and say demolishing the popular wooded area will destroy the environment.

Perry Ponder/Old Town Resident says, "All of these trees with X's on them are going to come down in the name of this parking lot, which the neighborhood doesn't want, which is in a location which does not make any sense. There are 35 trees to come down including the ones that are already down."

Old Town resident Mike McHaffie, says, "I've just kind of been disappointed about how this whole thing is being handled and how we're not partnered with the school in this decision. They're just going ahead with it."

School district administrators say they've had several meetings with residents and are planning another.

Project management says the gated parking lot is needed to allow safe parking for teachers and staff.

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July 2, 2012 -- 12:33 p.m.

The Director of Construction and Facilities says they have had three public meetings at Kate Sullivan and several within the surrounding neighborhoods to discuss the project.

He says the new parking lot is being built for the safety of teachers and staff.

The spokesperson for Leon County Schools says school officials plan to have another meeting with concerned residents.