Local officials on Thursday unveiled the site of Milwaukee's newest park.

Wedged along the Menomonee River for nearly 10 blocks, it's nothing more than a swath of raw dirt today.

But the park - as yet unnamed - will soon become the focal point of $26 million in development in the Menomonee Valley.

The park and related projects will serve widely ranging roles, from providing easier access to jobs in the Menomonee Valley to opening up sorely needed green space to the near south side.

Here are the highlights:

A 24-acre park stretching between Mitchell Park on the east and S. 37th St. on the west.

Two new bike and pedestrian bridges - near S. 33rd St. and near Mitchell Park - that will tie south side neighborhoods to the valley.

A new Urban Ecology Center branch at 3700 W. Pierce St.

One mile of recreation trails to augment 5 miles of the Hank Aaron State Trail in the valley.

Landscaping and in-stream and riverbank improvements that will stop soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat.

Construction of community gardens near a densely populated neighborhood.

On Thursday, former Braves and Brewers slugger Henry Aaron was on hand for a groundbreaking that formally kicked off construction of the park, although work has been under way this summer.

Some aspects of the project have already been completed.

They include a bridge on the trail spanning the Menomonee River and a pedestrian tunnel that links the trail to W. Pierce St.

Also, a refurbished building that is housing a third location for the Urban Ecology Center will open its doors next week.

Of the total cost, $3.6 million has not yet been funded, according to Laura Bray, executive director of Menomonee Valley Partners.

Bray said $14.8 million came from public sources, including federal transportation and state stewardship funds.

Private donors provided another $7.6 million, she said.

"The idea behind this project is that we had vacant land that could potentially attract crime," said Bray. "It could serve a lot of needs, and that's what it will do."

It's expected to take decades for the park's trees and landscaping to fully mature. Still, the park will be a natural draw to the river and the trail when it opens a year from now.

Also, it eliminates physical barriers created by the river and the rail lines that divide the valley from a community with high unemployment.

The valley has undergone an economic renaissance, and Bray estimates employment at 14,000.

According to figures provided by Menomonee Valley Partners, 23% of households in nearby neighborhoods don't have access to vehicles, which makes access to suburban jobs difficult.

The funding for the project includes $5 million for the Urban Ecology Center to refurbish an old tavern.

The new park was the principal draw for the environmental education center, according to Ken Leinbach, executive director.

His vision: Take kids from the classroom and allow them to conduct science experiments in the field. Put them in canoes and let them hike in the park and see nature close to home.

"If we don't have that outdoor laboratory, we wouldn't be here," Leinbach said.

The Urban Ecology Center currently provides environmental education programs to schools from its two existing locations in Riverside Park and Washington Park. Seventy-five percent of schoolchildren in the area don't perform at their grade level in science, according to Menomonee Valley Partners.

The park will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with the Urban Ecology Center.

"It's incredibly important that we bring children to areas like this where they can learn about nature and help them lead a healthy lifestyle," said Melissa Cook, trail manager for the DNR.