Part of the land surrounding the reservoir off Lindsay Road which is currently owned by Evans City. Submitted Photo.

JACKSON TWP — A two-year-long tug-of-war between two Butler County municipalities over a massive property is on the verge of ending.

Jackson Township’s supervisors approved a resolution at their meeting on Thursday, May 15, authorizing the township to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Evans City over the transfer of a 132-acre block of land surrounding a lake and dam near Lindsay Road.

“It authorizes the board to enter into, essentially, a sales agreement for the acquisition of the property,” said Jackson Township manager Chris Rearick.

Under the agreement, Jackson Township would acquire the land from Evans City and operate it as a public park. In return, the township would contribute $40,000 a year for five years to EDCO Park, a public park located on Main Street in Evans City.

In addition, Jackson Township would pay Evans City $1,204,000 — the value at which the property had been previously appraised.

Rearick said that Evans City will still have to approve the agreement at their upcoming meeting. Its borough council is scheduled to meet on Monday, June 2.

“We’re optimistic that Evans City may, at their next meeting, approve the same,” Rearick said. “That would enable us to voluntarily and mutually enter into an agreement and facilitate the voluntary transfer of the property for the consideration noted in the agreement.”

Although the land is geographically within Jackson Township, the parcels of land surrounding the reservoir — which total 132 acres — are currently owned by Evans City. This includes a 19-acre lake.

“The Township hopes to open the property as a public park, preserving the 19-acre lake and its natural surroundings by developing complementary amenities,” the township wrote in its “Hometown News” newsletter for winter 2025.

In late 2023, Jackson Township initially engaged in talks to acquire the reservoir property from Evans City in exchange for offering the borough police coverage from its department. At the time, Evans City was about to sever its police agreement with Seven Fields and was looking for a new partner. However, talks between Evans City and Jackson Township over police coverage soon stalled.

Jackson Township still wanted a place to put a new park and, last May, the township moved to acquire the reservoir property via eminent domain — a move that drew a strong reaction from the Evans City council.

In addition, Evans City filed an — ultimately unsuccessful — land use appeal in June 2024 against the township’s decision to rezone the reservoir property into its newly-established “conservation recreation” district.

By the start of 2025, according to Rearick, talks between the two sides’ solicitors turned more positive.

“Over the past couple of months, I think we’ve been able to hone in on something that’s mutually agreeable,” Rearick said. “(There has been) ongoing dialogue and discussion among our solicitors and independently among our boards.”

As part of the agreement, Jackson Township would withdraw its eminent domain filing on the reservoir property.