70 ILCS 1205/10-7

(70 ILCS 1205/10-7) (from Ch. 105, par. 10-7)

Sec. 10-7. Sale, lease, or exchange of realty.

(a) Any park district owning and holding any real estate is authorized (1) to sell or lease that property to the State of Illinois, with the State's consent, or another unit of Illinois State or local government for public use, (2) to give the property to the State of Illinois if the property is contiguous to a State park, or (3) to lease that property upon the terms and at the price that the board determines for a period not to exceed 99 years to any corporation organized under the laws of this State, for public use. The grantee or lessee must covenant to hold and maintain the property for public park or recreational purposes unless the park district obtains other real property of substantially the same size or larger and of substantially the same or greater suitability for park purposes without additional cost to the district. In the case of property given or sold under this subsection after January 1, 2002 (the effective date of Public Act 92-401) for which this covenant is required, the conveyance must provide that ownership of the property automatically reverts to the grantor if the grantee knowingly violates the required covenant by allowing all or any part of the property to be used for purposes other than park or recreational purposes. Real estate given, sold, or leased to the State of Illinois under this subsection (1) must be 50 acres or more in size, (2) may not be located within the territorial limits of a municipality, and (3) may not be the site of a known environmental liability or hazard.

(b) Any park district owning or holding any real estate is authorized to convey such property to a nongovernmental entity in exchange for other real property of substantially equal or greater value as determined by 2 appraisals of the property and of substantially the same or greater suitability for park purposes without additional cost to such district.

Prior to such exchange with a nongovernmental entity, the park board shall hold a public meeting in order to consider the proposed conveyance. Notice of such meeting shall be published not less than 3 times (the first and last publication being not less than 10 days apart) in a newspaper of general circulation within the park district. If there is no such newspaper, then such notice shall be posted in not less than 3 public places in said park district and such notice shall not become effective until 10 days after said publication or posting.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, this subsection (c) shall apply only to park districts that serve territory within a municipality having more than 40,000 inhabitants and within a county having more than 260,000 inhabitants and bordering the Mississippi River. Any park district owning or holding real estate is authorized to sell that property to any not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of this State upon the condition that the corporation uses the property for public park or recreational programs for youth. The park district shall have the right of re-entry for breach of condition subsequent. If the corporation stops using the property for these purposes, the property shall revert back to ownership of the park district. Any temporary suspension of use caused by the construction of improvements on the property for public park or recreational programs for youth is not a breach of condition subsequent.

Prior to the sale of the property to a not-for-profit corporation, the park board shall hold a public meeting to consider the proposed sale. Notice of the meeting shall be published not less than 3 times (the first and last publication being not less than 10 days apart) in a newspaper of general circulation within the park district. If there is no such newspaper, then the notice shall be posted in not less than 3 public places in the park district. The notice shall be published or posted at least 10 days before the meeting. A resolution to approve the sale of the property to a not-for-profit corporation requires adoption by a majority of the park board.

(d) Real estate, not subject to such covenant or which has not been conveyed and replaced as provided in this Section, may be conveyed in the manner provided by Sections 10-7a to 10-7d hereof, inclusive.

(d-5) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and in addition to the means provided by Sections 10-7a, 10-7b, 10-7c, and 10-7d, real estate, not subject to a covenant required under subsection (a) or not conveyed and replaced as provided under subsection (a), may be conveyed to another unit of local government or school district if the park district board approves the sale to the unit of local government or school district by a four-fifths vote and: (i) the park district is situated wholly within the corporate limits of that unit of local government or school district; or (ii) the real estate is conveyed for a price not less than the appraised value of the real estate as determined by the average of 3 written MAI certified appraisals or by the average of 3 written certified appraisals of State certified or licensed real estate appraisers.

(e) In addition to any other power provided in this Section, any park district owning or holding real estate that the board deems is not required for park or recreational purposes may lease such real estate to any individual or entity and may collect rents therefrom. Such lease shall not exceed 4 and one-half times the term of years provided for in Section 8-15 governing installment purchase contracts.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if (i) the real estate that a park district with a population of 3,000 or less transfers by lease, license, development agreement, or other means to any private entity is greater than 70% of the district's total property and (ii) the current use of the real estate will be substantially altered by that private entity, the real estate may be conveyed only in the manner provided for in Sections 10-7a, 10-7b, and 10-7c.

(Source: P.A. 101-243, eff. 8-9-19; 101-322, eff. 8-9-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)