MARSHALL — This fall, a big change is coming for Southwest Minnesota State University’s homecoming parade. SMSU is planning to hold the parade on the university campus, instead of taking its previous route passing down Marshall’s Main Street.

On Tuesday, a request for street closures for the parade was approved by the Marshall City Council, as part of the consent agenda at their regular meeting. Council members didn’t discuss the request, but materials included in the council’s agenda packet showed a map of the planned street closures.

In a Tuesday news release, SMSU spokespeople said the decision to move the parade to campus was due to the ongoing street construction in downtown Marshall.

SMSU Director of Alumni Relations and Outreach Hannah Abel said the community was still encouraged to enjoy homecoming events at the university on October 11.

“We’re bringing the homecoming parade to the place where Mustang pride runs deepest–our campus,” Abel said in the news release. “This move strengthens our traditions and creates unforgettable experiences for everyone involved. We invite students, alumni, and the Marshall community to come out, celebrate, and be part of a historic event.”

The road closure permit application approved by the city council included State Street, North O’Connell Street and parts of Birch Street and Mustang Trail, according to council agenda packet materials. SMSU’s news release said the parade lineup will begin near the track and field complex. From there, the planned route runs along the edge of the university campus, and up to the Schwan Regional Event Center.

Entrances to campus at the intersection of State Street and Stadium Drive, the intersection of North O’Connell Street and Minnesota Highway 23, O’Connell Street and Birch Street, and Birch Street and Mustang Trail would all be temporarily closed.

The street closure request was from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on October 11, agenda materials said. The homecoming parade is planned to start at noon that day.

The SMSU news release said free general parking would be available on campus on October 11, the day of the homecoming parade and football game. The university would also be holding a tailgating event on campus, the news release said. More detailed information on parking would be made available at SMSU’s homecoming website closer to the event, the news release said.