Councillors, residents question value of new playground speed zones

Edmonton city councillors and residents are questioning whether photo radar-enforced speed zones are appropriatenext to sports fields where children rarely play.

Last week, Daniel Onischuk noticed new30 km/hspeed limitsigns along 101st Street near 96th Avenue in theRossdaleneighbourhood. The signs say the speed limit is photo radar-enforced.

Along one side of the street are homes, while on the other there'sa fenced-in soccer field.

• City council approves 30 km/h speed limits near Edmonton playgrounds

Onischuk questions whether the playground zone is necessary because, he said, the field is usually empty.

"It just seemed wrong because there are no kids using these playgrounds."

'It just seemed wrong'

7 years ago

Duration 0:39

Edmonton resident Daniel Onischuk criticizes the city for adding playground-zone speed limits where few children play.

The city has so far installed signs at 168 of its 178 new standalone playground speed zones. The city is now adding the same signs at existing school zones for a total of425 playground zones throughout the city by the end of the year.

The city initiative usesa provincial definition of playground zones which states playgrounds are recreational facilities used primarily by children. This includes outdoor playgrounds, sports fields, ball diamonds and indoor or enclosed facilities such as skating rinks and swimming pools.

Since the playground zone signs went up in Ward 11, Coun.Mike Nickel saidhe's received 27 email complaints and others over the phone.

He saidsome of the playground zones cause confusion among drivers.

"No one is arguing that safety isn't paramount here, but what a lot of people are arguing is that in some places they make sense and in some places they don't make sense at all," Nickel said.

At a Nov. 2 council meeting, Ward 10 Coun.Michael Walters motioned for council to explore anarrower definition of playgrounds that doesn't include fields and green spaces where children are rarely present.

"Otherwise it's inconsistent and confusing and unclear and then we tag on photo radar," Walters said.

"I feel that's where we lose the public trust when it comes to photo radar, and it's not fair. Community safety and consistency are really important," he added.

"I think it's something that we have to look at and maybe scale back and focus on where we're actually going to keep kids safe."

Ken Karunaratne, a technical specialist with the city's road safety department, said the broad definition of parks is a proactive measure toprotect children.

"Those are the people we are targeting. We want to save their lives," he said.

Karunaratnesaidhe expects to hear complaints about the playground zones whilethey're still new, but he also expects the number of complaints to diminish over time.

"It is a change so sometimes people don't feel that they are necessary, but over time they will realize that this is a good thing to have," he said.

@Travismcewancbc

Travis.mcewan@cbc.ca