Mayor John Peyton is overseeing a series of projects to enhance downtown Jacksonville's landscape, furthering his vision for a livable, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly destination for Jacksonville's residents and visitors.

This greening initiative, labeled "downtown, naturally," includes the enhancement of landscaping along key downtown corridors. To date, the city's planted approximately 200 new trees along numerous city streets.

There also are plans underway for Main Street Park, a new three-quarter acre "pocket park" to be located on the corner of Main and Duval streets. Slated for construction in late 2006, the park will complement the Main Library and create an open greenspace in the city's urban core. It will feature a series of grass terraces lined with shade oak trees and a courtyard for hosting art exhibits.

Initial cost estimates for the Main Street park and landscaping enhancements along Main Street are approximately $1.8 million. In addition to existing funding from a Florida Department of Transportation Grant and the parks budget, the mayor will introduce legislation to the City Council appropriating money from the city's tree mitigation fund to the greenscape enhancements.

For a photo tour of downtown, click here.