The inability to turn left out of one of Whitehorse's newest neighbourhoods is creating public safety issues, says one of its residents.

"There are several issues on the plate,” Denny Day told council at its meeting Monday evening as he launched into a presentation on the issues.

"It was very poorly designed,” he said.

He pointed first to the exit which forces residents to turn right onto Hamilton Boulevard when leaving or pulling a U-turn at the intersection, as some are choosing to do.

Day suggested something should be done to remove the landscaped island at the entrance and exit for the

neighbourhood to allow for left turns to make it safer.

Inside the neighbourhood, the safety problems continue, with no play areas set aside for kids.

That leaves a large number of children who Day estimates to be between the ages of three and 12 playing in parking lots and streets.

His condo, for example, backs onto a parking lot – which means there's no outside play area for kids living there.

While there is a playground in the neighbouring subdivision of Arkell, Day pointed out that it's obstructed by trees from Ingram.

Consequently, it wouldn't be safe to send Ingram children there without supervision, Day said.

Under questioning by council members after Day's presentation, city staff confirmed the entrance and exit to the neighbourhood off Hamilton Boulevard was designed with the island there to prevent left turns.

As noted by Brian Crist, the city's director of infrastructure and operations, the access was designed to meet national standards with another access from Ingram into Arkell. From Arkell, drivers can turn left onto Hamilton Boulevard, he noted.

Linda Rapp, the city's director of community and recreation services, said she believes there is money set aside for a play area in Ingram. She plans to look into it further to confirm there is.

Rapp also pointed out the city takes a close look at the type of play area that would be best for each area when it's developed.

That could mean deciding between a tot lot, larger playground or a neighbourhood rink depending on what the neighbourhood could benefit the most from.

While it could be some time before a play area is in place, Coun. Dave Stockdale questioned the possibility of lowering the 50 km/h speed limit through the subdivision as it has done in Hillcrest and Takhini, where speed limits are now 30 km/h.

"This is a very constrained (area),” he said, stating the city should look at it.

Coun. John Streicker then suggested the letter Day sent to council detailing the safety concerns be forwarded to the city's traffic committee for consideration.

The committee is responsible for bringing forward recommendations to council on traffic issues, such as speed limits on city roads.

After last night's meeting, Mayor Dan Curtis said he isn't in a position to say exactly what should be done right away.

Rather, he wants to see the matter first go to the traffic committee for consideration.

The city regularly receives calls from people with concerns around traffic safety in different areas of the city, Curtis said, adding those concerns are taken seriously.

"We do go through a real process,” he said.

The traffic committee considers numerous factors in its recommendations, ranging from required standards, public safety, cost and legislation that must be met.

It's expected the committee will look at the issues in Ingram and later report back to council.