The owners of the Banner Park development in Braintree are donating 38 acres of land to the adjacent New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth for habitat preservation and expansion of its trail network.

“We’re just over the moon,” said wildlife center Chief Executive Officer Katrina Bergman. “This will conserve it for animals and for people.”

The land also will be used as a habitat for injured animals who have recovered at the center, she said.

Located off Columbian Street in Braintree near the Weymouth town line, the developer of the 123-acre Banner Park received approval last year for the construction of two buildings with a total of 240,000 square feet of space.

The developer is working with a company seeking to put a movie studio on the property. A life-science campus was originally planned there.

Chris Reale, a principal of Banner Park, said he has walked the trails with officials of the wildlife center.

“They will be great stewards and build an incredible trail network,” Reale said.

Bergman said the donation includes wetlands and uplands. The center had already been using some of the land for trails.

Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros worked with the center and the developer on the donation.

More:‘Night of 1,000 Faces’ to return to Weymouth just in time for Halloween

“We have 38 acres that are restricted for conservation but will give our residents the opportunity to walk these trails,” Kokoros said. “We’ve taken a large piece of land and preserved it for generations to come.”

Bergman thanked Kokoros for his efforts.

“What a treat to find an environmentally motivated person to work with,” she said.

Bergman said a donor has pledged the money needed to expand the trail network and add signs for the center’s education programs. They hope to begin construction on the new trails once the paperwork is completed and the deed is recorded.

RISE Development of Boston has proposed the movie studio at Banner Park, including seven soundstages. Reale said the movie and TV production business has been slowed by the writers’ and actors’ strike, which has delayed the studio project. He said he hopes to finish the deal in six months to a year.

Reach Fred Hanson at [email protected].

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

“