POWER TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY

(a) For the conservation of the natural resources of the county, the board may acquire land in the county, in or out of the district, including streams, lakes, submerged lands, and swamplands, to create parks. The board may develop, improve, protect, and promote the land in a manner the board considers conducive to the general welfare. (b) The land may be acquired by: (1) gift or devise; (2) lump-sum payment; or (3) installment payments with or without option to purchase. (c) The district does not have the power of eminent domain. (d) The commissioners court by eminent domain may not acquire land for park purposes and subsequently transfer by any means the land or control of the land to the board for park purposes or other purposes. If the commissioners court by eminent domain acquires land for purposes other than park purposes, the court may not subsequently transfer by any means the land or control of the land to the board for park purposes or other purposes unless at least 10 years have expired after the date of the acquisition by the court. This subsection applies only to land that the commissioners court acquires by eminent domain on or after August 31, 1987.