15.05 Standards for acquisition. 1. Lands acquired for state park purposes pursuant to this article shall be for additions to existing state parks or for the establishment of new state parks of substantial acreage.
2. Lands acquired for state or municipal parks pursuant to this article shall consist of predominately open or natural lands, including lands under water or forested lands, in or near urban or suburban areas, or suitable to serve the recreation needs of the expanding populations of growing metropolitan regions, or desirable to preserve the scenery or natural resources thereof.
3. Lands acquired by a municipality shall be:
(a) for establishing new parks of not less than fifty acres each in area, or
(b) for expanding existing parks to not less than fifty acres each by the addition of not less than twenty-five acres to such a park, except that upon certification by the governing body of a city or a village that insufficient areas of eligible land exist within said city or village to permit the establishment or expansion of parks in accordance with such minimum standards, the commissioner may make specific exceptions to these minimum standards of area, provided that no new park thus established, or existing park thus expanded shall contain less than twenty-five acres, or
(c) for establishing or expanding existing neighborhood parks convenient to densely-populated areas pursuant to such rules and regulations as the state commissioner of housing and community renewal, with the approval of the commissioner, shall prescribe.
4. Lands acquired for other than state or municipal park purposes shall consist of lands desirable for outdoor recreation, including public camping, fishing, hunting, boating, winter sports, and wherever possible, to also serve multiple purposes involving the conservation and development of natural resources, including the preservation of scenic areas, watershed protection, forestry and reforestation.
Last modified: February 3, 2019