WHITLEY CITY, Ky. (AP) — A small but important tract of land has been added to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area with help from a conservation organization.

The National Park Service wanted to purchase the land when the owner decided to sell it, but didn't have the money, so the The Nature Conservancy bought it and held onto the land until the park service got money, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported, citing a statement from the conservation organization.

The park service paid $370,000 for the 460-acre (186 hectares) tract in southern Kentucky, The Nature Conservancy said last week.

Big South Fork Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas told the newspaper that it was the biggest piece of land on the river inside the park that was still in private hands before the sale.

"It's extremely important because it protects the river," Nicholas said.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area encompasses 125,000 acres (50,586 hectares) in Kentucky and Tennessee.