The city of Monroe will be the beneficiary of a state program aimed at improving local landscapes. Monroe City Administrator Sandy Breckenridge says the city is currently developing a plan with the Community Visions organization, which integrates landscape design and sustainable community planning. Breckenridge says some of the improvements being considered are updates to Monroe’s park system, and beautification of the downtown area in an effort to attract new businesses. She says working with the organization has given city leaders an outside perspective on the issue of city planning, and encouraged the city to create a long term development plan. She says the city is in the beginning phase of that plan, and expects some of the projects to be completed in the next 12-18 months.