(a) Any municipality in this state is authorized to own, acquire, construct, reconstruct, extend, equip, improve, operate, maintain, sell, lease, contract concerning, or otherwise deal in or dispose of any land, buildings, improvements, or facilities of any and every nature whatever necessary or desirable for the developing and providing of public parks and facilities within or near the municipality including, without limitation, recreation areas, stadiums, auditoriums, arts and crafts centers, folklore centers, interpretative centers, camping areas, and other facilities so as to provide for the recreation and cultural needs of its inhabitants and to stimulate and encourage the economic growth of the municipality and its inhabitants; each such undertaking by a municipality shall sometimes be referred to in this subchapter as a “project”.
(b)
(1) Any municipality in this state shall have the authority to lease to any individual, firm, or corporation municipal property comprising parks, playgrounds, golf courses, swimming pools, or other property which has been dedicated to a public use for recreational or park purposes, on such terms and conditions as may be desirable or necessary.
(2) Any municipality is also authorized to lease municipally owned lands and facilities to a community college board to be used for educational purposes.
(3) Any lease under this subsection shall be for a period not to exceed ninety-nine (99) years.
(4) Those persons or entities holding leases on municipal park and recreational facilities on July 6, 1977, shall have the first option to renew their leases.
(c) Municipalities are authorized to enter into and carry out appropriate agreements with any agency of the government of the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as “government,” pertaining to the accomplishment of the purposes authorized by this subchapter including, without limitation, loan agreements with the government for the borrowing of money and agreements pertaining to grants from the government.
(d)
(1) In the event that necessary lands needed for the accomplishment of the purposes authorized by this subchapter cannot be acquired by negotiation, any municipality is authorized to acquire the needed lands by condemnation proceedings under the power of eminent domain.
(2) The proceedings may be exercised in the manner provided for taking private property for rights-of-way for railroads as set forth in §§ 18-15-1202 — 18-15-1207, or in the manner provided by §§ 18-15-301 — 18-15-307, or pursuant to any other applicable statutory provisions for the exercise of the power of eminent domain by the various municipalities in the State of Arkansas.