To acquire by gift, legacy, purchase, transfer, grant, agreement, dedication, or condemnation under the Eminent Domain Act, as amended, or other method, the fee simple title to real property or any lesser estates, interests or rights therein, including but not limited to leasehold estates, easements either appurtenant or in gross and either granting the Department specified rights of use or denying to the grantor specified rights of use or both (which easements may be perpetual and shall not be extinguished by conveyance of the servient estate), licenses, covenants, and other contractual rights in real property and to hold and manage the same for the purposes of this Act, and with or without public access.