The several counties of the state and the county commissions thereof, jointly, separately and severally, are authorized with the approval of the governor but not compelled to acquire lands by donation or purchase, one or both, and make improvements thereon for county, state, national and public purposes.

Such lands may be used, among other things, for the following public purposes:

(1) For the recreation, health and betterment of the people within the county;

(2) For the betterment and improvement of all useful and ornamental vegetable life, including agriculture, arborculture, horticulture and experimentation with growth and seeds of ornamental shrubs, trees and flowers;

(3) For the betterment of all animal life, including domestic animals, wildlife, fish and for fish hatcheries;

(4) For the collection and exhibit of minerals and all native products;

(5) For the creation and maintenance of springs, streams and lakes thereon; and

(6) For other improvements thereon such as fair grounds, athletic fields, museums, art galleries, military grounds, state armories, hospitals, school buildings and such other improvements and buildings thereon as may be deemed necessary for public purposes.

As used in this article the following terms have the meanings hereby ascribed to them:

(1) ESTABLISHING COUNTY. A county, the county commission of which has provided for the establishment of a park or recreational area or has designated land for the establishment thereon of a park or recreational area;

(2) ADJOINING COUNTY. A county the boundary of which abuts either land on which the establishing county has established a park or recreational area or land which the establishing county has designated for the establishment thereon of a park or recreational area.

The county commission of each county of the state is hereby authorized to acquire by purchase, condemnation, donation or otherwise land situated within the county for the purpose of establishing and maintaining thereon a public park or recreational area.

The power conferred by section 11-18-21 authorizes the county commission of the establishing county to acquire in any manner prescribed in said section 11-18-21 land situated in any adjoining county for the purpose of establishing and maintaining thereon a park or recreational area; provided, that such county commission shall first determine that the land in the adjoining county is so situated with respect to the park or recreational area in the establishing county that the use of such land in the adjoining county as a part of the park or recreational area would be to the interest of the citizens of the establishing county.

The county commission is authorized to appropriate and expend funds of the county in acquiring land as provided for in sections 11-18-21 and 11-18-22 and in establishing and maintaining a park or recreational area on any land so acquired.

Any county may cooperate with another county in the acquisition of land for the establishment of a park or recreational area.

The county commission is authorized, with the approval of the governor, to appoint a board of three trustees for the acquisition and maintenance of said lands and property. Said trustees shall be graduates of some high school or some reputable college, shall be men or women of public spirit, of means and shall serve without compensation. Their terms and successors shall be fixed and determined by the county commission with the approval of the governor.

A trust fund may be created by public donations or otherwise for the acquisition and maintenance of such property and lands and it shall be lawful for the county, state and national government to contribute to the acquisition and maintenance of said lands and property. The county commission is authorized under this section to make such contracts as may be deemed necessary.