By WILLIAM CLARK
Ocean Township recently authorized a $2.1 million dollar bond to purchase property from Kepwel Springs on Cold Indian Springs Road.
The property will become a public park said Mayor Chris Siciliano.
“We are really excited about this one,” he said. “It’s a historic piece of property.”
The township purchased six of the property’s eight acres from the Kepwell family, including the pond. Siciliano hopes the future park becomes a great resource for recreation programs where township children can come learn history and outdoor skills like canoeing. The house on the property will become a recreation lodge.
In addition, the township is working with a benefactor to build a handicap playground according to Siciliano.
The township is using open space funds to buy and develop the land, using no taxpayer money.
With land at a premium in the area, Ocean Township was able to move on the purchase before the property went on the open market, which Siciliano said keeps the space free from developers coming in and building what could have been up to 72 townhomes.
“We didn’t want to wipe out six acres of trees,” he said.
It will take time for the public to access the coming park, which Siciliano anticipates to be ready for use by the summer of 2023.
“People are going to love it when it opens,” he said.
