County Executive Dennis Levinson has announced the acquisition of 32.5 acres of open space with the June 30 purchase of an Egg Harbor Township property adjacent to the county’s Riverbend Park on Rt. 559.

The property, identified as block 7801, lot 3, was purchased for $70,800 with funding from the Atlantic County Open Space Trust Fund.

"As a result of our aggressive open space program, Atlantic County has been able to protect thousands of acres of property throughout the county from encroaching development and preserve many of our most pristine natural resources," said Levinson.

"In just the past three years we purchased more than 2,000 acres of open space with particular interest in acquiring properties in the state-mandated growth communities of Egg Harbor Township, Galloway and Hamilton townships," he added. "And we are on track to add an additional 1,000 acres this year."

"The county relies on state funding to help supplement our own open space funding. With the potential elimination of state preservation funding, we will have to become even more resourceful," said Levinson. "But open space preservation will remain a priority of my administration. We will do our best to stretch our dollars and take advantage of every available funding source."