Mo. Rev. Stat. § 67.880

67.880. Who may acquire land and for what purpose. — The Missouri state park board, and any county having a population in excess of two hundred thousand and any county adjoining, or city not within but adjoining such county, may acquire by purchase, gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise, the fee, development right or restrictive covenant, conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right in land or water rights located within such counties or cities necessary or appropriate to maintain, improve, protect, limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open spaces and areas within such counties or cities. The state park board or any such county or city may also acquire the fee to any property for the purpose of conveying or leasing said property back to its original owner or other person under such covenants or other contractual arrangements as will limit the future use of the property in accordance with the purposes herein expressed.

(L. 1971 H.B. 570 § 3)