The Village does not permit the use of these or similar signs on Village streets because they give the impression that it’s safe for children to play in or near the street and they tend to give parents and children a false sense of security. All children should be supervised and encouraged to play well away from the street. Carol Stream is fortunate to have numerous parks and recreational facilities throughout the Village where it is safe to play. Also, drivers need to watch for children at ALL times, not just in areas with these signs.

An application can be obtained from the Village or online (print using Adobe Acrobat). Provide the child’s proof of residency information and have the application signed by a qualified ear, eye or other specialist certifying the child is impaired or disabled. These signs will be posted only on 25 mph residential streets and for special needs children between the ages of two and fifteen.

One might think that “CHILDREN AT PLAY”, “SLOW CHILDREN” or other similar type signs would provide protection for children playing in a neighborhood, but they do not. It’s the unanimous conclusion from many reliable studies in towns where these warning signs have been installed that there is no evidence that the signs reduced driver speeds, legal liability or pedestrian accidents.

Furthermore, these studies have shown that “CHILDREN AT PLAY” type signs are actually more dangerous than no sign at all. This is because they create a false sense of security and a false impression that areas without signs don’t have children. If parents and children believe these signs are helping to protect them when in reality they aren’t, children are now at greater risk. We are essentially doing a disservice to our residents if we install these types of signs and are an unnecessary cost that can lead to additional signs.

All children should be supervised when playing outdoors. They should not play in or near the street, but instead be encouraged to play in nearby parks and open areas safely away from traffic. These types of signs have long been rejected because they are a direct and open suggestion that playing in or near the street is acceptable behavior. In addition their use could open the Village to tort liability. Typically the Village gets requests for these signs because a resident observed speeding in the neighborhood. Regrettably we usually find the residents in that area are the ones speeding. Use of these signs does not reduce vehicle speeds. Enforcement and education have shown to be effective tools. Therefore, any speeding should be reported to the Police Department.

For the above stated reasons the Village cannot provide nor allow the use of "CHILDREN AT PLAY" type signs along public streets. Any existing Village signs with the words “AT PLAY” will be removed and replaced with a special needs sign if applicable.