North Dakota Century Code Title 40. Municipal Government § 40-49-12. Powers of the board of park commissioners

1. Acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation subject to chapter 32-15, conveyance pursuant to Public Law No. 115-306, or otherwise, land anywhere within this state, or outside this state if located adjacent to a boundary of this state and of the park district, for parks, boulevards, and ways. The board has the sole and exclusive authority to maintain, govern, and improve the land, and to provide for the erection of structures thereon. Such parks, boulevards, and ways are considered for purposes of taxation and for all other purposes as being within the territorial limits of the municipality. If the board has acquired the legal title in fee to such lands, the board may sell and convey the same. A conveyance must be executed by the president and clerk of the board upon a resolution approved by not less than two-thirds of the members thereof.

2. Lay out, open, grade, curb, pave, and otherwise improve any path, way, or street, in, through, or around the parks, and construct, erect, build, maintain, manage, and govern any and all buildings, pavilions, play and pleasure grounds or fields, and such other improvements of a like character as may be deemed necessary.

3. Pass all ordinances necessary and requisite to carry into effect the powers granted to a board of park commissioners, with such penalties as the board may deem proper. No such penalty, however, shall exceed five hundred dollars.

4. Levy special assessments on all property especially benefited by the purchase, opening, establishment, and improvement of such parks or boulevards and of ways or streets about the same.

5. Employ such engineers, surveyors, clerks, and other employees, including a police force, as may be necessary, define and prescribe their respective duties, and fix and pay their compensation.

6. Issue negotiable bonds of the park district as provided in title 21.

7. Levy taxes upon all the property within the district for the purpose of maintaining and improving parks, boulevards, and ways, and to defray the expenses of the district. The proceeds of the taxes shall be available also for use in payment for any land purchased during the year or previously, or for improvements previously made for park purposes.

8. Establish building lines for all property fronting on any park, boulevard, or way under the direction and control of the board, and control the subdivision and platting of property within four hundred feet [121.92 meters] thereof.

9. Borrow money to defray the expenses of the year, subject to the limitations contained in title 21, in anticipation of taxes already levied, and issue therefor the warrants or other obligations of the district.

10. Connect any park or parks owned or controlled by it with any other park or parks, and for that purpose, it may select and take charge of any connecting street or streets or parts thereof; and the board shall have the sole and exclusive charge and control of any street or streets taken for such purpose.

11. Plant, set out, maintain, protect, and care for shade trees in any of the public streets or highways of the park district. The board may specify and regulate the kinds of trees that shall be planted in any such street or highway, the size and location of such trees, and the methods to be used in the planting and cultivation thereof and may pass such ordinances as may be necessary for the protection and control of such trees.

12. Plat and lay out such portions of park property as are not needed for the accommodation of the general public, and lease and demise lots or portions thereof for residential or concession purposes. The board may prescribe by ordinances the use that may be made of such leaseholds and the character of structures that may be placed thereon and may regulate generally the use and enjoyment thereof by the lessees or their successors.

13. Levy taxes upon all the property within the district, within the general fund levy authority of section 57-15-12, for the purpose of funding a comprehensive health care program for district employees.

14. Participate in cooperative purchasing contracts with the office of management and budget pursuant to chapter 54-44.4, participate in cooperative purchasing contracts with another state, and contract for cooperative purchases pursuant to a joint powers agreement under chapter 54-40.3.