Mattapoisett Land Trust members were thinking big when they accepted a small land donation near the town’s bike path three years ago.

At the time, the Captain Jack and Bridget Murray Preserve wasn’t located near conservation land, but that changed recently with the completion of the Nasketucket Bay Land Conservation Project.

To mark the preserve’s location, the Land Trust installed a stone sign last week to raise awareness for residents.

In December 2011, resident Jeanette Mello donated seven acres of woods and wetlands near the bike path where it crosses Brandt Island Road.

“Normally we wouldn’t accept an isolated seven-acre parcel, but we knew that a larger land deal was in the works to create more protected space in that part of town,” said Land Trust President Gary Johnson.

The Captain Jack and Bridget Murray Preserve now abuts 410 acres of protected land surrounding Nasketucket Bay in Mattapoisett and Fairhaven. More than half of the parcel, 250 acres, is in Mattapoisett.

The Buzzards Bay Coalition and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced the project’s completion last month. The Coalition and the DCR raised $6 million over the last four years. Mattapoisett voters contributed $555,230 to fund the purchase of the land.

Johnson noted that there aren’t hiking trails on the Murray Preserve, but residents are encouraged to visit the property, which is mostly composed of wetland.

“This provides a protected habitat for wildlife,” he said. “It’s not particularly useful for public access because it’s wet, but if people are interested in exploring the area to try and see some critters scurrying about it’s right on the bike path for easy access.”

With close proximity to the trails inside the Nasketucket property, Johnson said the Land Trust plans to install signs alerting bikers and walkers to more recreation opportunities.

“Our hope is to eventually place more signage there to indicate where people could access Nasketucket,” Johnson said.