• The City of Jacksonville’s Freedom Fanfare & Fireworks Fourth of July Celebration will begin on July 3.  The three day event will have several activities including: a free concert at Metropolitan Park with Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and Richard Marx, ice skating at the Veterans Memorial Arena and a “Freedom Ride” for area bikers. The festivities conclude with a spectacular fireworks display over the St. Johns River.  Click here for more information or call (904) 630-3690.

•Downtown Vision Inc.’s (DVI) 3rd annual “Eat Up Downtown” will be August 17-23.  Participating downtown restaurants will provide a specialty menu at an affordable price.  For more information, visit www.downtownjacksonville.org.

Update to Downtown Action Plan Item #1: Enhance the Level of Service for “Clean and Safe” Programs
•DVI has begun a new service as part of the Downtown Clean Team.  In addition to picking up litter and weeding and mulching tree beds, the Downtown Clean Team will now remove weeds from sidewalks and curbs in the Downtown Improvement District.  For more information on the service, visit www.downtownjacksonville.org.

Update to Downtown Action Plan Item #7: Improve Wayfarer Signage
•According to the Downtown Action Plan, wayfarer signage must be improved to make Downtown navigation more user-friendly.  To help achieve this goal, new signage will be installed on downtown public parking garages that will guide and direct downtown visitors more efficiently.  A total of six new signs will be installed in September.

•King Engineering was selected by JEDC to prepare a master plan and bid package for a comprehensive Wayfarer Signage program to upgrade and replace existing signage in Downtown.

Riverside Arts Market Expansion
•Plans are underway to build a pedestrian path that will connect the Riverside Arts Market and Northbank Riverwalk to the Five Points area and Riverside Park.  The proposed plan was approved by the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) at its June meeting.

New Playground
•First Baptist Church of Jacksonville is proposing to build a playground at Beaver and Main streets in Downtown.  The playground is part of improvements for First Baptist Academy, the new private school set to open this September.  The plan was approved by the DDRB at its June meeting.

2009 Best of Downtown Nominations
•904 Magazine and DVI are looking for those areas that represent the best of Downtown Jacksonville. Click here to nominate your favorite spot for the “Best of Downtown” awards!  Categories range from favorite historic place to best kept secret. Winners will be honored at DVI’s annual meeting in October and in the Sept/Oct 2009 edition of 904 Magazine.

Solar Powered Parking Meters
•Digital solar-powered parking meters have arrived in Downtown as part of a pilot program.  The new meters, located around several popular Downtown locations like the Landing and City Hall, accept change or credit/debit cards.  The meters were provided at no cost to the city for this initial test.

Haverty’s Building Update
•The $10 million renovation of the former Haverty’s Building is nearly complete.  In a unique financing arrangement structured by the JEDC serving as the city’s Downtown Development Authority, the Police and Fire Pension Fund provided funding for this project, complete with a lease back arrangement from the city.  In April 2009, the building was renamed the Jake M. Godbold City Hall Annex in honor of Jacksonville's former Mayor who is noted for leading Downtown revitalization efforts during his administration.

New Hotel on the Southbank
•A new dual brand Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton opened in June on the Southbank.  The hotel, located at 1201 Kings Avenue, has 221 rooms and features two lobbies, elevator banks, meeting space, swimming pool, restaurant and bar.  All suites contain full kitchens in studio, one and two bedroom configurations.  For more information, please visit www.jacksonvilledowntown.homewoodsuites.com.