The Wayzata City Council approved two change orders totaling approximately $21,000 for additional improvements at Clapbridge Park during its Nov. 5 meeting, responding to neighborhood concerns about landscaping and playground equipment visibility.

The larger change order, costing just over $16,000, will add nine balsam fir trees and six cardinal dogwood plantings to improve screening along the hillside adjacent to Park Street. The additional evergreen trees will fill gaps in the landscaping that residents said allowed light pollution from park visitors to reach their homes.

Resident Bob Fischer of 353 Park Street addressed the council, explaining that car headlights from the Wayzata Boulevard entrance create unwanted illumination in neighboring homes. "We get a lot of light just from people coming in and out of the park from the Wayzata Boulevard area and it comes straight up into our windows," Fischer said.

The council also approved a second change order for just under $5,000 to modify the hillside slide entrance structure. The alteration will remove decorative elements to make the playground equipment less visually obtrusive from neighboring properties while maintaining structural integrity and warranty coverage.

Both improvements are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Parks and Environment Planner Keys noted that the balsam fir trees will be planted at 12 feet in height and should provide immediate screening, while the dogwood plantings will reach mature height within three to four years. The park remains closed during ongoing construction work.