JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayor John Peyton teamed up with former Jaguar Tony Boselli on Thursday in an attempt to crack down on crime as part of a new anti-crime initiative called Jacksonville Journey.

To kick off the plan, the mayor focused efforts on the Eureka Garden Apartments on Labelle Street, a neighborhood where crime is all too common.

"This is a neighborhood we can certainly identify as being one of our most needy," Peyton said.

An especially vulnerable time at the Westside apartment complex is when darkness falls.

Peyton said he wants to take a step toward putting an end to violent crimes with the installation of streetlights -- a security feature he said reduces crime.

"If you've been there at night, you recognize the tremendous opportunity to improve that circumstance with lighting. While that might be a simple infrastructure need, it's one that can have a dramatic impact," Peyton said.

Aside from improved lighting, the mayor said he wants to get kids off the streets and onto paved sidewalks for their safety.

"Children and families should not have to walk on streets in neighborhoods to get to and from school. I am asking our agency heads to find the money to address needed sidewalks," Peyton said.

Boselli is in charge of the neighborhood safety and stability subcommittee of Jacksonville Journey, and he is also working to reverse the trend of violence.

Reopening closed community centers is at the forefront of Boselli's cause.

"Renovate, revitalize the community center by staffing it and creating programs for young people," Boselli said.

Studies have shown that youth are more likely to commit or fall victim to crime between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

That's why Boselli, a father of four, said after-school programs are so important.

"My belief is that one of the greatest things we can do is create after-school programs for young people -- somewhere where they can go," Boselli said. "One thing that I'm going to be pressing our community to focus on is character and education."

From a city standpoint, Peyton and Boselli said they would do everything in their power to stop crime in Jacksonville, but the end result could come down to residents working to take back their community.