BREWER – Children soon will be able to run through a hedge maze, smell the flowers of several different types of gardens and frolic along a rock-lined pond with a small waterfall – all within city limits.

Work crews from Sprague’s Nursery & Garden Center in Bangor broke ground Wednesday behind Dead River Co. at 103 South Main St. and began to clear the area for a children’s garden within the city’s ambitious Penobscot Landing redevelopment project along the river.

The 1-acre children’s garden will include a presentation plaza and a story area with granite seating.

The garden will connect with a walking path running the length of the Penobscot Landing project, which spans the area between the three bridges.

The waterfront project includes a commercial shopping area, a public pier, a marina and the children’s garden.

The children’s garden is being funded by a $50,000 grant from the National Park Service in partnership with the Maine Department of Conservation and $50,000 in matching grant funds from the city.

“It’s a hundred thousand dollar project,” Economic Development Director Drew Sachs said Wednesday. “The city’s match was approved last year, so it’s not part of this year’s budget.”

Five types of gardens will be planted at the site including a secret garden, a wetland garden, an heirloom garden, a woodland garden and an education garden that will be planted with herbs and native Maine plants.

Youngsters will be able to cross the pond using a foot bridge built and donated by a local Boy Scout Taylor Tremble of Troop 15.

Begun Wednesday, the project will take several years to complete, Code Enforcement Officer David Russell told the planning board Monday.

“What our hopes are will not be completed this year,” he said.

The long-range goal of the Penobscot Landing project is to revitalize 6,000 feet of Brewer’s waterfront. The city began to stabilize the riverbank last fall.

Last year the city moved its Public Works operation to Green Point Road and a couple of months ago demolished the old public works building on Hardy Street as part of the landing plans.

At that site a performing arts center, the Penobscot Landing Arts Yard, or PLAY, will seat more than 300 and provide open space to augment the neighboring children’s garden.

“We are still looking for people who can donate funds, plants or work” for the garden, City Planner Linda Johns told the planning board Monday.

She said the city is planning an “Adopt a Park” program so different area groups, school classes or organizations can help the city maintain the garden.