JACKSON TWP — Supervisors approved the acquisition of a 9-acre property from the Jackson Ridge Homeowners Association, setting the stage for what could be the township’s newest public park.

The property, which lies at the intersection of Evans and Youngblood roads, was originally designated for the Jackson Ridge Development.

According to township manager Chris Rearick, officials had previously worked with the association to execute a memorandum of understanding that “discussed steps in procuring the 9-acre property.”

“It currently consists of a pad of vacant property where some illegal dumping had occurred by parties other than the township and the association,” Rearick said.

Rearick also noted as part of the means for consideration of acquiring it, township officials intend to “clean it up over a period of the next two to three years and install a playground and potentially a pavilion as an amenity for the nearby neighborhoods.”

While the land was already under the jurisdiction of the township, the agreement will free up the homeowner’s association from all responsibilities and allow the township to begin restoring it.

“It relieves the association of any maintenance responsibilities or the responsibility to clean up the debris that was placed there,” Rearick said.

He added that the current plan is to map out what the space could look like over the next few years in consultation with residents of the nearby developments.