After more than a decade of dreaming, the Indianapolis Museum of Art's ambitious art and nature park is out of the blocks and on its way to becoming a reality.

IMA staff held the groundbreaking for the Virgina B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park Thursday, which they have nicknamed 100 Acres. The former rock quarry on the banks of the White River will open Sept. 27, 2009 with semi-permanent outdoor installations by eight artists designed to blend in with the facility's natural beauty.

To date, the museum has raised $23.3 million toward the park's campaign goal of $25 million.

"What makes our park exceptional is that we're not simply inserting existing sculptures into the landscape," said Lisa Freiman, senior curator of contemporary art and director of the park. "Unlike most sculpture parks, the Fairbanks will feature ongoing, temporary commissions, and each piece will be created specifically in response to the park's unique environment."