TOMS RIVER — The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders will hold a public hearing on the purchase of 614 acres of open space property along Route 532 in Ocean and Lacey townships at 4 p.m. today at the Ocean County Administration Building in Toms River.

The property is known locally as the Forked River Mountains.

The New Jersey Conservation Foundation requested a partnership with the Ocean County natural Lands Trust Fund in order to assure this property could be acquired,'' said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the county's Natural Lands program.

As a result of the funding, Ocean County will acquire almost 30 acres of the property for its natural lands inventory. This parcel contains about a half mile of road frontage on the south side of Wells mills Road in Waretown. Ocean County would also acquire a deed restriction over the entire 614 acres property.

The county's Trust Fund will provide the $500,000 needed to make the preservation take place,'' Bartlett said. The total acquisition price is $2,700,000.