ATLANTA -- Atlanta leaders on Monday announced a new effort to spruce up the city's downtown in a plan that calls for stepped up police presence, more entertainment options and a renewed focus on Woodruff Park.

The effort, known as Let's Do Downtown, aims to make the city's central business district an inviting place for residents and tourists by improving the area's asthetics and giving people who work and play in the area more things to occupy their time.

The program will be rolled out over the next 100 days and is being implemented by the city and Central Atlanta Progress, a group made up of business leaders who work in downtown Atlanta.

As part of the effort, the city plans to:

• increase the number of police officers in the area;
• crack down on panhandling;
• keep Woodruff Park clean; and
• provide free concerts over the next three months every day from noon to 1 p.m.

Other city administrations have tried in the past to restore the luster to downtown Atlanta. Officials in Mayor Shirley Franklin's office said they think the effort can work this time.

"Some of it has to do with the timing being right," said Sandra Walker, the mayor's spokesman. "There are a lot more people interested in making this happen. We just have a great round of support behind this to try and make all of this work out this go around."

As part of the initiative, up to 200 cows will be placed at sites around downtown as part of a public artwork project being coordinated by the city's parks and recreation department.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Jeff Dore contributed to this report.