City of Lethbridge potentially changing school zones to playground zones

The proposed change would see the 30 kilometre per hour speed limits be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset every day, regardless of whether school is in session.

One concern with the current zoning, as mentioned in the city’s survey page, is that schools are regularly used outside of classroom instruction hours. Many use the facilities for extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, and playing on the playgrounds in the evenings and on weekends.

On the other hand, the city says the speed zone harmonization would result in the slower speed limits becoming active one hour later. It might also not be clear to drivers when “one hour after sunset” begins.

The Lethbridge School Division, Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, and Lethbridge Police Service have all voiced their support for the changeover.

In February 2022, the Town of Coaldale changed all of its school zones to playground zones.

Coaldale’s Manager of Policing Mark Anderson said at the time of the transition that “Standardizing these signs will make it safer for children using all playgrounds, including school playgrounds, and bring Coaldale in line with other major centres in Alberta for consistency when traveling between communities.”

The City of Lethbridge estimates that it will cost approximately $80,000 to harmonize school and playground zones.

The findings of the survey will be presented to Lethbridge City Council in March 2023. If council decides to move ahead with the initiative, it is anticipated that the changeover will be in place for the first day of school in September 2023.

More details, including a link to the survey, are on the Get Involved Lethbridge website.

by David Opinko

City of Lethbridge potentially changing school zones to playground zones

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