A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday for the newly created Little Mexico trail head at 139 Little Mexico Rd., Saylorsburg

Chestnuthill Township Supervisor Eric Snyder called the project a “ labor of love.”

Three parcels of land were acquired through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, costing $40,000 for the trailhead and $250,000 for property acquisition.

The township got a grant to demolish the two houses on the property that were falling apart and took down old billboards leading up to the land.

Chuck Gould, chairman of township supervisors, said, “This is a culmination of hard work to symbolize the commitment of saving the beauty of the West End with preserved land.”

The new access point for the 769-acre Big Woods Natural Area will allow people an opportunity to “preserve the hunting heritage,” according to Ryan Gildea, land manager group supervisor with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Gildea said that the land will be used for non-game wildlife such as swallows, song birds and threatened species.

The game commission will manage the property to get rid of invasive plants and promote growth of native species.