70 ILCS 1205/ Park District Code.

(70 ILCS 1205/7-2) (from Ch. 105, par. 7-2)

Sec. 7-2. Power is hereby conferred upon any park district to acquire, lay out, extend, maintain, and improve pleasure driveways and boulevards and to acquire and improve any and all real estate, lands, riparian estates or rights, and all other property acquired or needed for any such park, boulevard, or driveway or for extending, adorning, or maintaining the same if such land is located within such park district, under the provisions of Article 9 of the Illinois Municipal Code, as heretofore and hereafter amended. The Board shall, by resolution, designate the Local Improvement Act under which it elects to proceed. The same provision shall apply to the collections of the assessments by installments and for the issuing of bonds and vouchers therefor as are provided in case of special assessments of cities and villages in said Article 9 of the Illinois Municipal Code, except as limited by Sections 7-3 to 7-5 hereof.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1398.)

(70 ILCS 1205/7-3) (from Ch. 105, par. 7-3)

Sec. 7-3. In the making of any local improvements by a park district and except as in this section otherwise provided, the powers and duties provided to be exercised and performed by the respective officers of cities and villages under Article 9 of the Illinois Municipal Code, as heretofore and hereafter amended shall be exercised and performed by the corresponding officers of such park districts, insofar as action by any such officers is required under the form of local improvement proceeding the board elects to adopt for the improvement. The board of such district shall act as the Board of Local Improvements. The superintendent of such park district or such other official or person as the board may designate shall act as Superintendent of Special Assessments. The engineer employed by the board to prepare the plans and specifications for the improvements shall be the "engineer," or if no such person be employed, then any qualified engineer designated by the board may so act. The attorney for said park district shall (unless a special attorney be employed by the board for such purpose) be the attorney for said Board of Local Improvements.

The members of said board of local improvements shall act as such without compensation, and the secretary shall be ex-officio secretary of said board of local improvements and the treasurer shall perform the duties of collector of said special assessment and shall be custodian of such funds which shall be expended only for the improvement for which said assessment is levied.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1398.)

(70 ILCS 1205/7-4) (from Ch. 105, par. 7-4)

Sec. 7-4. The word "improvement" as used in this article shall include the condemnation of property for park or boulevard purposes, or both.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/7-5) (from Ch. 105, par. 7-5)

Sec. 7-5. Any park district may, in the manner hereafter provided, levy an annual tax not exceeding .025% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all the taxable property in such district, to be known as a public benefit tax, and the fund arising therefrom shall be known as a public benefit fund and shall be used solely for the purpose of paying any such amounts that may be assessed for such public benefit under Section 7-2. No such tax shall be levied in any park district until the question of levying such tax is first certified by the board to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be submitted to the voters of the district in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Shall a public benefit tax not exceeding

.025% be levied each year on the taxable YES

property of.... Park District (naming it) as ----------------

provided in Section 7-5 of "The Park District NO

Code"?

--------------------------------------------------------------

Notice of the referendum shall be given and the referendum shall be conducted in the manner provided by the general election law.

If a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor, the governing board may levy and collect such tax annually thereafter, so long as there remains outstanding any assessment against the district for public benefits under any special assessment proceeding. Should any assessment be later assessed against the district in a subsequent local improvement proceeding for public benefits, then the tax may again be levied so long as the assessment remains unpaid without the necessity of any additional referendum. Such tax shall be in addition to all other taxes authorized by law to be levied and collected in such district and shall not be included in any limitation of rate contained in this code or any other law, but shall be excluded therefrom, in addition thereto, and in excess thereof. The tax shall be levied and collected in like manner as the general taxes for such district. The foregoing limitations upon tax rates may be increased or decreased according to the referendum provisions of the General Revenue Law of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 81-1489; 81-1509.)

(70 ILCS 1205/Art. 8 heading) ARTICLE EIGHT. GENERAL POWERS OF PARK DISTRICTS

(70 ILCS 1205/8-1) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-1)

Sec. 8-1. General corporate powers. Every park district shall, from the time of its organization, be a body corporate and politic by the name set forth in the petition for its organization, the specific name set forth in this Code, or the name it may adopt under Section 8-9 and shall have and exercise the following powers:

(a) To adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure; to sue and be sued; and to contract in furtherance of any of its corporate purposes.

(b)(1) To acquire by gift, legacy, grant or purchase, or by condemnation in the manner provided for the exercise of the power of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act, any and all real estate, or rights therein necessary for building, laying out, extending, adorning and maintaining any such parks, boulevards and driveways, or for effecting any of the powers or purposes granted under this Code as its board may deem proper, whether such lands be located within or without such district; but no park district, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, shall have any power of condemnation in the manner provided for the exercise of the power of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act or otherwise as to any real estate, lands, riparian rights or estate, or other property situated outside of such district, but shall only have power to acquire the same by gift, legacy, grant or purchase, and such district shall have the same control of and power over lands so acquired without the district as over parks, boulevards and driveways within such district.

(2) In addition to the powers granted in paragraph (1) of subsection (b), a park district located in more than one county, the majority of its territory located in a county over 450,000 in population and none of its territory located in a county over 1,000,000 in population, shall have condemnation power in the manner provided for the exercise of the power of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act or as otherwise granted by law as to any and all real estate situated up to one mile outside of such district which is not within the boundaries of another park district.

(c) To acquire by gift, legacy or purchase any personal property necessary for its corporate purposes provided that all contracts for supplies, materials or work involving an expenditure in excess of $30,000, or a lower amount if required by board policy, shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after due advertisement. No district shall be required to accept a bid that does not meet the district's established specifications, terms of delivery, quality, and serviceability requirements. Contracts which, by their nature, are not adapted to award by competitive bidding, such as contracts for the services of individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part, contracts for the printing of finance committee reports and departmental reports, contracts for the printing or engraving of bonds, tax warrants and other evidences of indebtedness, contracts for utility services such as water, light, heat, telephone or telegraph, contracts for fuel (such as diesel, gasoline, oil, aviation, or propane), lubricants, or other petroleum products, contracts for the use, purchase, delivery, movement, or installation of data processing equipment, software, or services and telecommunications and interconnect equipment, software, or services, contracts for duplicating machines and supplies, contracts for goods or services procured from another governmental agency, purchases of equipment previously owned by some entity other than the district itself, and contracts for the purchase of magazines, books, periodicals, pamphlets and reports are not subject to competitive bidding. Contracts for emergency expenditures are also exempt from competitive bidding when the emergency expenditure is approved by 3/4 of the members of the board.

All competitive bids for contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $30,000, or a lower amount if required by board policy, must be sealed by the bidder and must be opened by a member or employee of the park board at a public bid opening at which the contents of the bids must be announced. Each bidder must receive at least 3 days notice of the time and place of the bid opening.

For purposes of this subsection, "due advertisement" includes, but is not limited to, at least one public notice at least 10 days before the bid date in a newspaper published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the district.

(d) To pass all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the proper management and conduct of the business of the board and district and to establish by ordinance all needful rules and regulations for the government and protection of parks, boulevards and driveways and other property under its jurisdiction, and to effect the objects for which such districts are formed.

(e) To prescribe such fines and penalties for the violation of ordinances as it shall deem proper not exceeding $1,000 for any one offense, which fines and penalties may be recovered by an action in the name of such district in the circuit court for the county in which such violation occurred. The park district may also seek in the action, in addition to or instead of fines and penalties, an order that the offender be required to make restitution for damage resulting from violations, and the court shall grant such relief where appropriate. The procedure in such actions shall be the same as that provided by law for like actions for the violation of ordinances in cities organized under the general laws of this State, and offenders may be imprisoned for non-payment of fines and costs in the same manner as in such cities. All fines when collected shall be paid into the treasury of such district.

(f) To manage and control all officers and property of such districts and to provide for joint ownership with one or more cities, villages or incorporated towns of real and personal property used for park purposes by one or more park districts. In case of joint ownership, the terms of the agreement shall be fair, just and equitable to all parties and shall be set forth in a written agreement entered into by the corporate authorities of each participating district, city, village or incorporated town.

(g) To secure grants and loans, or either, from the United States Government, or any agency or agencies thereof, for financing the acquisition or purchase of any and all real estate, or rights therein, or for effecting any of the powers or purposes granted under this Code as its Board may deem proper.

(h) To establish fees for the use of facilities and recreational programs of the districts and to derive revenue from non-resident fees from their operations. Fees charged non-residents of such district need not be the same as fees charged to residents of the district. Charging fees or deriving revenue from the facilities and recreational programs shall not affect the right to assert or utilize any defense or immunity, common law or statutory, available to the districts or their employees.

(i) To make contracts for a term exceeding one year, but not to exceed 3 years, notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary, relating to: (1) the employment of a park director, superintendent, administrator, engineer, health officer, land planner, finance director, attorney, police chief, or other officer who requires technical training or knowledge; (2) the employment of outside professional consultants such as engineers, doctors, land planners, auditors, attorneys, or other professional consultants who require technical training or knowledge; (3) the provision of data processing equipment and services; and (4) the purchase of energy from a utility or an alternative retail electric supplier. With respect to any contract made under this subsection (i), the corporate authorities shall include in the annual appropriation ordinance for each fiscal year an appropriation of a sum of money sufficient to pay the amount which, by the terms of the contract, is to become due and payable during that fiscal year.

(j) To enter into licensing or management agreements with not-for-profit corporations organized under the laws of this State to operate park district facilities if the corporation covenants to use the facilities to provide public park or recreational programs for youth.

(Source: P.A. 101-304, eff. 8-9-19; 102-999, eff. 5-27-22.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-1.1)

Sec. 8-1.1. Property owned by a park district shall not be subject to annexation by a municipality without the express consent of the board of park commissioners of the district.

(Source: P.A. 94-396, eff. 8-1-05.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-1.2)

Sec. 8-1.2. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, any power granted under this Code to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-2) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-2)

Sec. 8-2. An Act entitled "An Act to provide for making improvements and repairs by any park commissioners upon boulevards, parkways and highways", approved April 22, 1907, as amended, and, also, "An Act to enable park commissioners or park authorities to take, regulate, control, improve, repair and maintain public streets and to provide a method of securing funds for the improvement, repair, maintenance, regulation and control of same", approved June 22, 1917, and also, "An Act to enable park commissioners or park authorities to take, regulate, control and improve public streets and to pay for the improvement thereof", approved June 21, 1895, shall not be deemed repealed as to districts under this code, but all the rights, powers and privileges by said acts conferred shall remain and be vested in and be available to all park districts.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-3) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-3)

Sec. 8-3. All park districts shall retain and be vested with all power and authority contained in an act entitled "An Act concerning Aquariums and Museums in Public Parks", approved June 17, 1898, as amended.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-4) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-4)

Sec. 8-4. All park districts shall retain and be vested with all power and authority contained in an act entitled "An Act authorizing park commissioners to acquire or provide sites for armories for the National Guard and to acquire or establish and to maintain landing fields for aircraft", approved July 11, 1927.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-5) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-5)

Sec. 8-5. All park districts shall retain and be vested with all the powers granted by an act entitled "An Act in relation to the construction by park districts of elevated pleasure highways and boulevards and the provision of means for the payment of the cost thereof", approved June 24, 1929.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-6) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-6)

Sec. 8-6. Nothing in this Code shall be deemed to repeal "An Act to authorize the confinement in houses of correction of persons convicted of the violation of ordinances of public park commissioners", approved May 25, 1907, but said act shall be available to, and the powers, rights and duties therein set forth shall apply to all park districts.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-6a)

Sec. 8-6a. Park district land outside of boundaries; subject to ordinances. Park district land located outside the district's boundaries and not contiguous for the purpose of annexation shall be subject to all personal conduct and criminal provisions of the ordinances of the district, and any police force having jurisdiction within the property may make arrests and issue citations for violation of those district ordinances as if the land were within the boundaries of the park district. The violation shall be prosecuted and adjudicated as if the violation occurred within park district boundaries.

(Source: P.A. 89-458, eff. 5-24-96; 89-536, eff. 7-19-96.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-7) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-7)

Sec. 8-7. Any park district shall have power within its jurisdiction to designate by ordinance the whole or any part of two or more streets, roads, or, boulevards under the jurisdiction of any city, town or village within the boundaries of said district, as a public driveway, to be used for pleasure driving only; and also to lay out, establish, alter, extend, pave or otherwise improve and maintain the same and designate the same as pleasure driveways, to be used for pleasure driving only. Such park districts may, by ordinance, regulate, restrain and control the speed of travel upon the same, and in all things may regulate, restrain and control the use of said pleasure driveways and parks by the public or individuals, and may exclude therefrom funeral processions or anything other than pleasure vehicles; provided, that any and all roads, streets, boulevards or parks lying wholly or in part within the corporate limits of any city, town or village situated within any park district shall first, from and after the organization of such district, by ordinance of such city, town or village be turned over and placed under the control of such park district and accepted, by ordinance, by such district.

Any parks or boulevards within the limits of any park district and also within any municipality or any parks owned by or under the control of any municipality which are in or within four miles of the corporate limits of such municipality may, with the consent of such municipality, on the organization of said district, be turned over to and placed under the control thereof. In any such park district any and all lands fronting on a lake, now belonging to or under the control of any city, town or village in said park district, with the riparian rights attached thereto, shall be and are hereby appropriated for such park or parks, or boulevards, as are authorized to be made and established by this code, with the consent of the corporate authorities of such municipality.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-8) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-8)

Sec. 8-8. Any park district, when so requested by its treasurer, shall designate one or more banks or savings and loan associations in which the funds of the district may be deposited. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and has qualified by furnishing the statements of resources and liabilities required by this section. When a new depository is designated, the district shall notify the sureties of its treasurer of that fact, in writing, at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. Such treasurer shall be discharged from responsibility for all such funds and moneys deposited in a bank or savings and loan association, so designated, while such funds and moneys are so deposited.

No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or of any other law, each official custodian of park district funds, including, without limitation, each park district treasurer and each person properly designated as the official custodian for park district or joint recreational program funds, including, without limitation, each person properly designated as official custodian of funds for joint recreational programs established pursuant to the provisions of Sections 8-10b and 8-18 of this Act and each person properly designated as custodian for funds held by an intergovernmental risk management association or self-insurance pool composed solely of participating park districts, forest preserve districts or joint recreational programs, is permitted to (i) combine moneys from more than one fund of a single park district, joint recreational program, risk management association or self-insurance pool for the purpose of investing such moneys, (ii) enter into agreements of any definite or indefinite term regarding the deposit, redeposit, investment, reinvestment or withdrawal of park district, risk management association, self-insurance pool or joint recreational program funds and (iii) join with any custodians or treasurers of park district, Chicago Park District, joint recreational program, risk management association, self-insurance pool or forest preserve district funds for the purpose of investing any park district, risk management association, self-insurance pool or joint recreational program funds in his custody. When funds are combined for investment purposes as authorized herein, the moneys combined for such purposes shall be accounted for separately in all respects, and the earnings from such investment shall be separately and individually computed and recorded, and credited to the fund, district, joint recreational program, risk management association, self-insurance pool or other entity, as the case may be, for which the investment was acquired. The grant of authority contained in this Section is cumulative and supplemental and in addition to all other power or authority granted by any other law and shall not be construed as a limitation of any power or authority otherwise granted.

(Source: P.A. 85-460.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-8a)

Sec. 8-8a. Transfer of interest income. Any park district, when requested by its treasurer, may transfer the interest earned on any of the moneys of the district into the fund of the district that is most in need of the interest. This Section does not apply to any interest earned that has been earmarked or restricted for a designated purpose. This Section does not apply to any interest earned on any funds for the purposes of municipal retirement under the Illinois Pension Code and tort immunity under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Interest earned on these funds may be used only for the purposes authorized for the respective funds from which the interest earnings were derived.

(Source: P.A. 91-300, eff. 7-29-99.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-9) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-9)

Sec. 8-9. Name change.

(a) Whenever two-thirds of the governing board of a park district shall approve an ordinance or resolution to change the name of such park district, a copy of such ordinance or resolution shall be duly certified by the president and secretary of such board and filed in the office of the county clerk of the counties wherein such park district is located. Upon the filing of the aforesaid ordinance or resolution for change of name in the office of said county clerk such change of name of such park district shall be complete.

(b) Whenever a Public Act changes the name of a park district, the secretary of the board of the park district shall, within 30 days after the date upon which the Public Act becomes law, obtain copies of the Public Act that are duly certified by the Secretary of State and file a certified copy of the Public Act in the office of the county clerk of each county in which the park district is located. The change of name of a park district by a Public Act shall be complete upon the Public Act becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 98-772, eff. 7-16-14.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-10) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-10)

Sec. 8-10. All park districts shall have power to plan, establish and maintain recreational programs, provide musical concerts, to construct, equip and maintain airports, landing fields for aircraft, armories, field houses, gymnasiums, assembly rooms, comfort stations, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, bathing beaches, bath houses, locker rooms, boating basins, boat houses, lagoons, skating rinks, piers, conservatories for the propagation of flowers, shrubs, and other plants, animal and bird houses and enclosures, athletic fields with seating stands, golf, tennis, and other courses, courts, and grounds, and the power to make and enforce reasonable rules, regulations, and charges therefor. The express enumeration of each of the foregoing recreational facilities and equipment which park districts are herein given the power to provide shall not be construed as a limitation upon said park districts, nor prohibit any park district from providing any other facilities or equipment which may be appropriate for park purposes in any park of said district, nor shall the same in any way be held to limit the power and authority conferred upon park districts under other sections of this code.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-10a) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-10.1)

Sec. 8-10a. Every Park District is authorized to establish, maintain and manage recreational programs for persons with disabilities, including both persons with mental disabilities and persons with physical disabilities, to provide transportation for persons with disabilities to and from such programs, to provide for such examination of participants in such programs as may be deemed necessary, to charge fees for participating in such programs, the fee charged for non-residents of such district need not be the same as the fees charged the residents of the district, and to charge fees for transportation furnished to participants.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-10b) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-10.2)

Sec. 8-10b. Joint recreational programs for persons with disabilities. Any 2 or more park districts, or in counties with a population of 300,000 or less, a single park district and another unit of local government, are authorized to take any action jointly relating to recreational programs for persons with disabilities that could be taken individually and to enter into agreements with other park districts and recreation boards and the corporate authorities of cities, villages and incorporated towns specified in Sections 11-95-2 and 11-95-3 of the "Illinois Municipal Code", approved May 29, 1961, as amended, or any combination thereof, for the purpose of providing for the establishment, maintenance and management of joint recreational programs for persons with disabilities of all the participating districts and municipal areas, including provisions for transportation of participants, procedures for approval of budgets, authorization of expenditures and sharing of expenses, location of recreational areas in the area of any of the participating districts and municipalities, acquisition of real estate by gift, legacy, grant, or purchase, employment of a director and other professional workers for such program who may be employed by one participating district, municipality or board which shall be reimbursed on a mutually agreed basis by the other districts, municipalities and boards that are parties to the joint agreement, authorization for one municipality, board or district to supply professional workers for a joint program conducted in another municipality or district and to provide other requirements for operation of such joint program as may be desirable.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-11) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-11)

Sec. 8-11. In addition to the other powers and authority now possessed by it, every park district shall have the power to grant licenses, easements, and right of ways to municipalities, corporations or persons for the construction, operation and maintenance of facilities upon, under or across any property of such district for water, sewer, telephone, electric, gas or other public service, subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by the district.

To all municipalities lying within the limits of any park district is hereby expressly reserved the right to lay and repair water and sewer pipe under the surface of any boulevard or park therein in the same manner and to the same extent it could have been done before the organization of such park district; provided, said property shall be restored to original condition by said municipality on completion thereof.

(Source: P.A. 83-526.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-12) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-12)

Sec. 8-12. In addition to other powers and authority now possessed by it, every park district shall have the power:

(1) To lease from any public building commission created pursuant to the provisions of the Public Building Commission Act, approved July 5, 1955, and as amended from time to time, any real or personal property for the purpose of securing office or other space for its administrative corporate functions for a period of time not exceeding twenty years;

(2) To pay for the use of this leased property in accordance with the terms of the lease; and

(3) To enter into such lease without making a previous appropriation for the expense thereby incurred.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1166.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-13) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-13)

Sec. 8-13. In addition to the other powers and authority now possessed by it, every park district may enter into a lease for a period of not to exceed 8 years for such equipment and machinery as may be required for corporate purposes when authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the governing board of the park district.

(Source: P.A. 101-249, eff. 8-9-19.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-13a)

Sec. 8-13a. Agreements related to solar energy. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, a park district may enter into a lease, contract, or other agreement related to the acquisition of solar energy, including the installation, maintenance, and service of solar panels, equipment, or similar technology related to solar energy, for a period not to exceed 2.5 times the term of years provided for in Section 8-13 when authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the governing board of the park district.

(Source: P.A. 103-146, eff. 6-30-23.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-14) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-14)

Sec. 8-14. All Park Districts have the power to dedicate areas as nature preserves as provided in the "Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act", as now or hereafter amended, and to cooperate with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in matters relating to the purposes of that Act.

(Source: P.A. 82-445.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-15) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-15)

Sec. 8-15. In addition to the other powers and authority now possessed by it, every park district shall have the power and authority to purchase or improve or repair any real estate, equipment, machinery and other personal property for public purposes under contracts providing for payment in installments. Any such contract heretofore or hereafter entered into may be refinanced at any time by means of a refunding loan agreement. Each such contract or refunding loan agreement may provide for installment payments of principal and interest to be made at stated intervals during a certain period not to exceed 20 years. Interest paid on the principal balance outstanding may be at any rate or rates permitted on park district bonds and may be adjusted on such date or dates as are specified in the contract or refunding loan agreement, provided that the rate of interest resulting from the adjustment on such date or dates shall not exceed the greater of (i) the maximum rate of interest permitted on park district bonds on the date such contract or refunding loan agreement was made by such park district; or (ii) the maximum rate of interest permitted on park district bonds on the interest adjustment date specified in the contract or refunding loan agreement. No contract or refunding loan agreement for the same real estate or personal property may exceed an aggregate of 20 years.

Every park district may, in such contract or refunding loan agreement, irrevocably contract to issue general obligation bonds or notes from time to time as permitted by law and to apply the proceeds thereof to the payment of principal and interest on the contract or refunding loan agreement. Notwithstanding any change in law subsequent to the making of such irrevocable contract to issue bonds or notes, every park district making such irrevocable contract shall be authorized to issue such bonds or notes as though the laws relating to park district bonds and notes in effect at the time of the making of such irrevocable contract were in full force and effect until all of the installments on the contract or refunding loan agreement have been paid in full. The State of Illinois pledges and agrees that it will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in park districts in this paragraph of this Section so as to impair the terms of any such irrevocable contract until each contract and refunding loan agreement is paid in full.

The provisions of this Section shall not, however, be construed in any manner whatsoever to permit the issuance of bonds or notes without referendum except as provided in Article 6 of "The Park District Code" at the time such irrevocable contract is made.

In connection with any contract or refunding loan agreement authorized by this Section, every park district may issue certificates evidencing the indebtedness incurred pursuant to such contract or refunding loan agreement in such number, denomination and form as the park district shall determine. The indebtedness incurred under this Section when aggregated with existing principal indebtedness may not exceed the debt limits provided in Section 6-2 of "The Park District Code"; provided, however, that the interest to be paid on obligations incurred pursuant to this Section shall not be included in any computation of indebtedness.

(Source: P.A. 86-494.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-16) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-16)

Sec. 8-16. In addition to the other powers and authority now possessed by it, every park district shall have the power and authority to lease real estate for a period not to exceed 99 years and to improve the same in such manner as may be required for corporate purposes by the construction of capital improvements thereon when so authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the governing board of the park district.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3558.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-17) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-17)

Sec. 8-17. The corporate authorities of each park district or municipality may provide for joining the park district or municipality in membership in the Illinois Association of Park Districts, a non-profit, non-political association of Illinois park districts, city park commissions, and playground and recreation commissions and may provide for the payment of annual membership dues and fees. The member park districts, city park commissions, and playground and recreation commissions acting by, through and in the name of such instrumentality may provide and disseminate information and research services, employ personnel, and do any and all other acts for the purpose of improving local and park district government.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3554.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-18) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-18)

Sec. 8-18. Every park district shall have the power and authority to develop, operate, finance and participate in joint recreational programs with one or more park districts, cities, city recreation commissions, forest preserve districts, conservation districts, school districts, or other municipal or quasi-municipal governments, and to enter into joint agreements pertaining thereto, including the joint use of facilities and equipment and the securing of liability insurance in connection with such use.

(Source: P.A. 99-271, eff. 8-5-15.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-19) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-19)

Sec. 8-19. Any park district may sell or deliver alcoholic liquors in accordance with the provisions of "An Act relating to alcoholic liquors", approved January 31, 1934, as such Act may be now or hereafter amended. Such park district shall provide dram shop liability in maximum insurance coverage limits in accordance with "An Act relating to alcoholic liquors", approved January 31, 1934, as such Act may be now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 82-1057.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-20) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-20)

Sec. 8-20. Each park district shall indemnify and protect members of the park board and employees of such district against civil rights damage claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and suits, death and bodily injury damage claims and suits, and property damage claims and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts alleged to have been committed within the scope of employment, or under the direction, of the board. Such indemnification and protection shall extend to persons who are members of the park board or employees of the district at the time of the incident from which a claim arises.

(Source: P.A. 83-807.)

(70 ILCS 1205/8-21) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-21)

Sec. 8-21. Each park district may insure against any loss or liability of the park district, members of the park board, and employees thereof, by reason of civil rights damage claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and suits, death and bodily injury damage claims and suits, and property damage claims and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts allegedly committed within the scope of employment, or under the direction, of the park board. Such insurance shall be carried with a company licensed to write such coverage in this State.

Each park district may provide for or participate in the provision of insurance protection and benefits for its employees and their dependents, including but not limited to retirement annuities, and medical, surgical and hospitalization benefits, in such types and amounts as shall be determined by the board, for the purposes of aiding in securing and retaining the services of competent employees. Where employee participation in such provision is involved, the board, with the consent of the employee, may withhold deductions from the employee's salary necessary to defray the employee's share of such insurance costs. Such insurance or benefits may be contracted for only with an insurance company authorized to do business in this State. Such insurance may include provision for employees and their dependents who rely on treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, in accordance with the tenets and practice of a recognized religious denomination.

For the purposes of this Section, "dependent" means an employee's spouse and any unmarried child (1) under the age of 19 years, including (a) an adopted child and (b) a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the employee in a regular parent-child relationship or (2) under the age of 23 who is enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited school, college or university.

(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)