(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, and except as provided in subdivision (b), when property, whether owned in fee or lesser title interest, leased, or operated under a license, management agreement, or otherwise, is appropriated or otherwise acquired for public use as a regional park or regional open space or both operated by a district, there is a rebuttable presumption of its having been appropriated or otherwise acquired for the best and most necessary public use. The presumption established by this subdivision is a presumption affecting the burden of proof.

(b) When such property is sought to be acquired for city or county road, street, or highway purposes, and such property was dedicated to or established for park, recreational, or open-space purposes prior to the initiation of road, street, or highway route location studies, an action for declaratory relief may be brought by the district in the superior court to determine the question of which public use is the best and most necessary public use for such property. Such action for declaratory relief shall be filed and served within 120 days after publication by the city or county, as the case may be, in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to § 6061 of the Government Code, and delivery of a written notice to the district by the city or county that a proposed route or site or an adopted route includes such property. Such action for declaratory relief shall have preference over all other civil actions in the matter of setting the same for hearing or trial to the end that any such action shall be quickly heard and determined. If an action for declaratory relief is not filed and served within such 120-day period, the right to bring such action is waived and the provisions of subdivision (a) shall not apply. When a declaratory relief action with respect to such property being sought for city or county road, street, or highway purposes may not be brought pursuant to this section, the provisions of subdivision (a) shall not apply.

(Amended by Stats. 1975, Ch. 813.)