City Council approves school and play zone changes effective September 2022

City Council approved adjustments to speed limits in school and play zones across the city at the December 6 Council Meeting.

All parks and elementary school zones will be reduced to 30 km/hr and be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The high school zones will remain at 40 km/hr and will be in effect 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Changes to the school and play zones will come into effect September 2022.

In addition to the speed zone changes, the following recommendations have also been approved:

• The Columbia School Zone will further extend north of Independent Street;
•  A stop sign will replace the current yield sign at the corner of Dalebrooke Drive and Parkview Road;
• The school zone on Gladstone Avenue South, which supported the old Simpson School, will be removed and recommendations to install a cross walk with flashing lights at Independent Street will be reviewed; and
• The existing high school zone will end after the Sacred Heart High School building (north end).

“Children are our most important priority in our lives & changing the park and school zone speeds will ensure safe play areas for children and families in our community and provide safe buffers around schools. Family amenities & outdoor activities continue to be at the top of City Councils priorities and safety must always be included,” said Mayor Mitch Hippsley.

Council directed the City’s Recreation and Community Services department to develop a strategy to establish safe play zones at City Parks. A comprehensive review of all play areas where children and families play, was completed, which also impacted school zones. The City’s Bylaw Services and Engineering and Asset Management were then brought on the project to ensure consistency with the City’s Bylaws.

Administration met with three Committees of Council, all Yorkton school Principals and the Yorkton Active Transportation Collaborative (YATC) as part of the community engagement process.

“Yorkton City Schools were given the opportunity to meet members from the city and other administrators to discuss the safety of our students with regards to speed zones in Yorkton,” said Noel Budz, Principal of Dr. Brass School. “We discussed that the majority of cities in the province have speed zones of 30 km/hr. currently, our speed zones are set at 40 km/hr. This difference creates confusion for Yorkton citizens attending other cities, and guests to Yorkton as well. We believe that adjusting the speed limit in school zones to 30 km/hr would make school zones safer for our children,” said Budz.

Below shows a map with a legend outlining the coming changes in September 2022.

For more information, please visit our School and Play Zones page.