School zones now playground zones in Calgary

The city is getting rid of allschool zones in Calgaryand turning them into playground zones.

It's meant to improve safety for children as they head back to school.

• City to discuss new hours for school, playground zones

Ravi Seera,the city's manager of traffic safety,says eliminating school zones and setting straight forward and consistent playground zone hours will enhance safety for both pedestrians and motorists.

Seeranotesthat school zones are only in effect on school dayswhile playground zones are in effect every day allyear round.

The time they are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. will not change.

City council allocated $545,000 last year to transition school zones to playground zones with the goal of raising more awareness aroundschools that operate year-round.

The city says Calgary has approximately 180 school zones and 1,510 playground zones. Crews will bereplacing the school zone signs throughthe fall, with the workexpected to wrap upby the end of October.