VIRGIL, NY (607NewsNow) – More property in Cortland County is being protected.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) has acquired 108 acres in the Town of Virgil from the estate of David Connolly. The Ithaca-based conservation groups say it will help safeguard wildlife habitat, create new public recreational opportunities, and protect water quality in Owego Creek.

The parcel is surrounded by the James Kennedy State Forest and neighbors 250 privately owned acres near Greek Peak Mountain Resort. According to FLLT officials, they intend to transfer the newly acquired land as an addition to Kennedy State Forest, creating a larger block of protected lands in the area and providing additional public access points.

The landscape includes steep slopes, hardwood trees, a small pond, and 1,400 feet of frontage along a tributary to the East Branch of Owego Creek.