CALAIS – An organization eager to help the city acquire a piece of coastline is trying to inject new meaning in the expression “giving a gift that will last a lifetime.”

The St. Croix International Waterway Commission is offering an incentive for people to contribute to the purchase of Devil’s Head, a 315-acre headland bordering the St. Croix estuary and U.S. Route 1.

The city is acquiring the property from willing landowners in order to create a conservation area for recreation and education while retaining open space and preserving key habitat for ospreys, eagles and other species.

The waterway commission, an oversight group whose membership comes from both sides of the border, is managing the acquisition.

Small parcels can be “given” as a gift. The commission said it is offering gift certificates for $25 or $50. One hundred dollars will buy a half-acre sponsorship; for $500, the donor’s name will be listed on the Devil’s Head legacy plaque.

The property six miles south of Calais offers beach access to the St. Croix River and a scenic view of 40 miles of Maine and New Brunswick coastline and trails.

“It’s a great chance to do something for the community,” said Lee Sochasky, executive director of the waterway commission.

Devil’s Head will be owned and managed by the city of Calais under conservation agreements with the state.

There are five properties involved. Two already have been acquired, and the remaining three are under contract to be purchased within the next few weeks.

To date, the purchases have been supported by individuals, businesses and community groups, as well as with major grants from the Land for Maine’s Future Program, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, NOAA Coastal Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The cost to complete the acquisition is $325,000.

Organizers hope to raise an additional $55,000 next year for trails, parking and shore access. A hiking trail to the peak will provide exceptional views of St. Croix Island, the focus of the St. Croix 2004 celebrations.

The city has applied for $23,000 in federal and state funds to help offset the cost of the trail.

Sochasky said last week that $300,000 had been raised, but another $20,000 is needed to complete the purchase by year’s end.

The agency has begun a major push to raise that money. To encourage local giving, the Maine Community Foundation has issued a challenge grant to match the first $5,000 in local contributions that the commission receives.

“We’ve set up a special program for the holidays that will make it easy to give a lasting gift, support Devil’s Head and get a tax receipt,” Sochasky said.

Contributions, which must be made by Dec. 31, may be left at the Calais City Building, Calais Savings and Loan, First National Bank of Bar Harbor or at the waterway commission office in St. Stephen.