A $15 million highway improvement project was started in Lynchburg by VDOT in 1990. Since no money is allocated for aesthetics by VDOT for existing roadway work, the city and Proctor Harvey, of Harvey-Delaney Landscape Architects began a unique approach to improving the looks of the Lynchburg Expressway. Never before had a public-private partnership been formed to raise funds for esthetic improvements in state right of ways. The firm developed a conceptual design for both sides of the 4.2 mile roadway, complete with plans and perspective drawings showing what the new road enhancements would look like. The end product was a book, which was used as a visual aid to help ?EUR??,,????'??sell?EUR??,,????'?? the project to the city council and especially private donors. All significant donations were to be recognized with an award and a sign on the project. We designed the signs as part of the project. For fundraising, a public-private nonprofit group was formed to assist the LEAF (Lynchburg Expressway Appearance Fund) project. Harvey worked closely with this group as a liason with the city. The fund-raising campaign was developed to meet our budget estimate of $350,000. The project was so successful that the ?EUR??,,????'??team,?EUR??,,????'?? chaired by Smokie Watts, raised over a half- million dollars in donations and in-kind services. Detailed construction drawings were then developed, expanding the project with the additional funds. The project was bid through the city and a contractor chosen. The work was completed in four months of construction time. The overall LEAF project was completed in 1993. All construction funding was from private donations secured by the fundraisers. It turned out to be a most significant win-win opportunity for the city and its citizens, as well as private corporations who obtained great ?EUR??,,????'??civic?EUR??,,????'?? advertising from the project. This project was so successful many people called with further interest, and even questions about why they were not contacted to participate! The team then decided to develop a second phase, which began in 1994 and was successfully completed in early 1996. Since 1996, we have gotten continued interest and are now in Phase III of our LEAF project.