The Sippican Lands Trust has announced the gift of Osprey Marsh, a 19.8-acre waterfront property, from the Howland family.

Combined with the 8.9-acre Howland Marsh, acquired from the family in 1995, the Lands Trust now owns 28.7 contiguous waterfront acres off of Point Road.

Mary Howland Smoyer and siblings Meg, Edward and George spearheaded the effort to make this gift a possibility.

Presenting the gift, Mary said, “Osprey Marsh is land that we four inherited from our grandparents, Edward and Eleanor Howland. Eleanor left written instructions that at any time the property could be transferred for the benefit of the town and its inhabitants or to an educational or wildlife organization to do so.”

Both Edward and Eleanor had a love of nature, said Mary.

She also feels that the land should remain untouched and available to the public for recreational and educational purposes through the Sippican Lands Trust.

As part of the terms of the gift, the Sippican Lands Trust is working on the property to ready it for visitors by late summer.

There will be an off-street parking area, a kiosk and property marker and a beginning trail through the upland to a water vista on the shoreline.

Planning is in the works for a future, developed trail system through the property with the goal to connect Osprey Marsh with Howland Marsh.

In keeping with the name of the property, the Lands Trust would also like to erect at least one osprey nest in the future.