One longtime Woodbury resident is asking the Woodbury City Council to address what he and his neighbors are calling an unsightly change to the Interlachen neighborhood’s entrance following city construction.

Speaking Feb. 11, Steve Simon said he has lived in Woodbury nearly 30 years and serves as treasurer of the Interlachen Neighborhood Association, a voluntary group representing about 145 of 187 eligible homes. The association collects roughly $24,000 annually in dues, most of which funds landscaping and beautification at the entrance off Valley Creek Road.

“We hire professionals to plant flowers and other plants, to trim them, to fertilize them,” Simon said. The group also maintains sprinklers and lighting for the entrance monuments under a long-standing agreement with the city.

During construction of a new water treatment facility, the water and electric lines from the monuments to the center island were severed. Simon said the city told residents they would have to pay to rerun them. The association ended up covering the cost.

While utilities have been restored, Simon said residents are dissatisfied with the current appearance of the center island. He described the added protective posts and equipment, saying the city “painted the post bright yellow, and they put a big silver box over the top of it, and they put a big pole on top of it.”

“I can assure you that the phone calls… have not been positive,” Simon said, sharing one message that called it “the worst this has ever looked.”

“So the question is, what does the city plan to do, if anything, to help us beautify that monstrosity?” he asked.

Mayor Anne Burt confirmed the group operates voluntarily, not as a formal HOA. City officials typically respond to statements made during council meetings within a week, though timelines can vary depending on the urgency of the issue.

An update will be provided when a resolution is reached.