GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF PARKS 



435 



Legislation for Park Board or Commission Form of Control 

 This is the form of legislation, it has been pointed out, under which 

 the great majority of cities operate their parks. In a few cities the functions 

 of parks and recreation are combined under one commission, but in the 

 majority of c,ases there is a separate park and a separate recreation board 

 or commission. 



Birmingham, Alabama. 1 Birmingham is an example of a city in which 

 the park system and the public recreation system are administered by one 

 body, the park and recreation commission. The city operates under a state 

 law as follows: 



An Act to provide for the establishment, conduct, 

 development, equipment, improvement, and mainte- 

 nance by cities having a population of one hundred 

 thousand or more according to the last or any subse- 

 quent Federal census, of parks, park areas, park boule- 

 vards, playgrounds, park and playground systems, 

 recreation centers, and other recreational facilities and 

 activities; to define the powers and duties of such 

 cities and their governing bodies in connection with all 

 such matters; and to create a park and recreation board 

 in all such cities, provide for the selection, terms of 

 office, removal from office, qualifications and duties of 

 the members thereof, and to define the powers of such 

 board. 



Be it Enacted by the Legislature of Alabama: 



Section i. That this Act shall apply to all cities of 

 the State of Alabama now or hereafter having a popula- 

 tion of one hundred thousand or more, according to the 

 last or any subsequent Federal census. The term "such 

 city" as used in this Act refers to and means all and 

 only those cities of the State of Alabama having a 

 population of one hundred thousand or. more according 

 to the last or any subsequent Federal census. 



Section 2. That any such city in the State of Alabama 

 may use for parks, playgrounds, recreational centers 

 and other recreational purposes and activities, any 

 public parks or park areas of such city, or any lands 

 or buildings or both owned or leased by such city; and 

 any such city may, by and through its park and recrea- 

 tion board, in such manner as may now or hereafter be 

 authorized or provided by law by the acquisition of 

 lands or buildings for public purposes by such city, 

 acquire or lease lands or buildings or both within or 

 beyond the corporate limits of such city for parks, 

 park areas, park boulevards, playgrounds, recreational 

 centers, and other recreational purposes and activities, 

 and when acquired for any such purposes such city 

 shall have full police jurisdiction thereover, whether 

 within or beyond the corporate limits of such city, 

 and such police jurisdiction shall also extend over any 

 highway or highways connecting any such lands or 

 places with such city, except as to such parts thereof 



'General Acts, Alabama, 1923. 



as may lie within the corporate limits of some other 

 municipality. Any such city may, by and through its 

 park and recreation board, establish, provide, conduct, 

 develop, equip, improve and maintain parks, park 

 areas, park boulevards, playgrounds, recreation centers, 

 and other recreational activities and facilities and for 

 any or all such purposes or in connection therewith, 

 by and through its park and recreation board, may 

 employ engineers, architects, landscape artists, play- 

 ground directors, play leaders, supervisors, recreation 

 superintendents, or other such officers or employees as 

 may be deemed necessary. Reasonable fees or charges 

 for access to or use or enjoyment of any playgrounds, 

 recreation centers, recreational activities, or other places 

 of recreation so established, maintained, or conducted 

 by any such city may be charged and collected, all 

 funds received from such sources to be paid into and 

 become a part of the park and recreation fund of such 

 city. 



Section 3. That any such city may, by and through 

 its park and recreation board, accept any grant or devise 

 of real estate or any gift or bequest of money or other 

 property, or loan of personal property, or any donation 

 to be applied, principal or income, or both, for either 

 temporary or permanent use for parks, playgrounds, 

 or other recreational purposes, and if any such gift, 

 bequest, devise or donation or loan be conditional, the 

 proper authorities of such city shall have authority to 

 accept the same upon the conditions attached, and to 

 comply with such conditions, if in the judgment of such 

 authorities such condition or conditions be reasonable, 

 and to the best interests of such city. Money received 

 in any such manner unless otherwise provided by the 

 terms of the gift or bequest, shall accrue to and become 

 a part of the park and recreation fund of such city. 



Section 4. For any or all of the purposes mentioned 

 in this Act, any such city upon the recommendation of 

 the park and recreation board may purchase on time 

 or partly for cash with balance on time or deferred 

 payments, or otherwise acquire any real property or 

 interest in real property, within or without the limits 

 of such city, securing the note or notes, claim or claims 



