The East Ridge City Council this afternoon unanimously approved a land transfer agreement for 120 acres next to Camp Jordan.

The wooded area, currently owned by Luken Holdings, was used for an application for federal stimulus money to preserve flood plains.

If the grant is approved, the city will receive $1.6 million, $500,000 of which will go to Luken for the property. The remaining unrestricted money can be used by East Ridge.

City Manager William Whitson said he had dreams of turning the area, which runs next to Chickamauga Creek, into a nature preserve with hiking, walking and biking trails.

“This is something else we could offer visitors to our area to do,” Mr. Whitson said during the specially called meeting.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.