Mo. Rev. Stat. § 64.360

64.360. Recreational lands — powers of county commissions (second class counties). — The county commissions of such counties shall upon the recommendation of the county planning and recreation commission have power: To acquire by purchase, gift, lease, condemnation or otherwise, real estate and other properties for public recreational purposes; to designate, lay out, acquire and to construct and maintain highways, bridges, viaducts and other structures necessary to public highways or highway systems, as other county highways are acquired, improved and maintained for such purposes by the method herein provided for acquiring real estate and acquire by any such methods real estate or other property for drains, canals and sewers either within or without such property so acquired for the protection of or as a part of such property, and the county commission may apportion and turn over to the commission herein created, sufficient federal government funds, state funds or county relief funds to acquire such property and to construct and maintain improvements thereon and to control and operate the properties so acquired.

(RSMo 1939 § 2518)