The board of park commissioners shall have power to provide for the sodding of sidewalk spaces upon all public streets, avenues, boulevards, alleys, and other public grounds of the city, and it shall be its duty so to do. The board of park commissioners shall have power to issue scrip to contractors for the cost of such work when done upon streets payable in not to exceed one year from its date and bearing interest at not to exceed the maximum rate of interest prescribed by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 10-1009, and levy special assessments against lots and tracts of land in front of which sodding is done according to the front foot thereof for the same.