The Scarborough Land Trust has completed the purchase of the 135-acre Benjamin Farm property on Pleasant Hill Road. Land trust officials joined members of the Jerrerd Benjamin family at the closing on Dec. 12.

The land trust, which issued a press release regarding the transaction Dec. 30, now owns the property, and says the property will be permanently conserved for open space, public access and wildlife habitat.

“People have been driving by Benjamin Farm for years, hoping that it would be conserved,” said land trust board president Paul Austin. “We are thrilled to be conserving this gem of a property for the community, forever.”

“We thank the citizens of Scarborough for their strong support of Town Land Bonds, and the more than 400 donors who provided overwhelming support of our Capital Campaign. Benjamin Farm is a dream come true for Scarborough.”

Located two miles from Higgins Beach, Benjamin Farm consists of open fields, woods and wetlands, and contains headwaters of the Spurwink River. It abuts Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and is part of a wildlife and wetlands corridor that reaches to Scarborough Marsh. It is one of the last, large open spaces in one of the most populated areas of town.

Lead support for the $2.5 million conservation project came from the town of Scarborough. In June, the Town Council voted unanimously to approve $2 million from the Town Land Bond Fund. The remaining $500,000 was raised through a Capital Campaign that received unprecedented community support.

“The town is very pleased to partner with Scarborough Land Trust to conserve this wonderful asset for the community,” said Scarborough Town Manager Tom Hall. “The strong support for Benjamin Farm shows that conservation of natural areas is a priority for the people of Scarborough.”

Land trust officials said anonymous donors issued a $50,000 matching challenge in September that took the campaign over the top. Additional funds raised will support stewardship needs, as the land trust must care for the property in perpetuity.

The land trust will be developing plans for Benjamin Farm in the new year. Among its first priorities will be creating public trails. There will also be opportunities for community input on the use of the property.

Founded in 1977, Scarborough Land Trust conserves land for public benefit. It has created trail networks on four of its properties, which are open to the public year-round: Libby River Farm, Fuller Farm, Sewell Woods and Broadturn Farm. Broadturn Farm is home to one of the largest organic farms in Greater Portland. The land trust has conserved more than 1,300 acres to date.