ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — The township is on its way to adding 26 wooded acres to its greenspace program, the first acquisition for the township this year.

        Since 1990, the township has acquired more than 500 acres of greenspace, but buying land has become difficult in recent years because of the soaring cost of undeveloped land and competition with developers.

        The latest acquisition — which is still subject to a title search, land survey and an environmental assessment — is off Eight Mile Road near the Interstate 275 bridge.

        The township will pay about $650,000 for the 26 acres.

        “We are quite pleased,” said Ron Edgerton, chair of the township's Greenspace Advisory Committee, which oversees the greenspace program. “We are getting a prime piece of property that has high visibility in the township. It's something we can now protect as open space without its being developed.”

        Mr. Edgerton and Trustee Russ Jackson said they had been interested in the property, which belongs to William J. Williams, a former owner of the Cincinnati Reds, for some time, but thought the opportunity had passed by when a developer expressed an interest in the land.

        “This is an important parcel for us just by its location,” said Mr. Jackson. “We knew we were a little weak in the southeast section of the township, so this really helps that balance. And it's a very visible parcel.”

        The township has paid more than $3 million for 54 parcels to preserve as greenspace since voters approved a levy in 1990. But land values have been getting higher.

        Property owners with larger parcels, say township officials, still live on the property, or have not made a decision on what they will do with their land.

        “Some really have in mind to negotiate with a developer, who can usually pay more than we can afford to pay,” said Mr. Edgerton. “So the challenge for us is to look for greenspace opportunities.”

        Mr. Jackson agrees.

        “It's just becoming more and more difficult for us to find these parcels,” said Mr. Jackson.

        “To compete with developers makes it even tougher. But this land is quite a bargain for the taxpayers and quite a coup for all of us in the township.”

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