The governing body of a municipality may, by private sale, sell park land physically occupied by an encroaching building and the park land around the building extending a distance not to exceed ten feet from the foundation of the building provided the building was in existence prior to January 1, 1988. Such park land may only be sold to the owner of the encroaching building and may be sold without competitive bidding. The municipality shall have such land appraised by one or more persons licensed by the state to do fee appraisals. The municipality may not sell the property for less than the appraisal price. The change of the use of such land need not be submitted to the voters of the municipality pursuant to § 9-38-34. If the governing board of the first or second class municipality desires to exchange the land that it is disposing of for other land owned by the person whose building encroaches on the park property, the governing body may do so as long as the municipality has both properties appraised and receives equivalent value in the form of land and cash for the park property disposed of. The sale of property pursuant to this section is an administrative decision pursuant to § 9-20-19.

Source: SL 1988, ch 80; SL 1992, ch 60, § 2.