N.J. Stat. § 40:12-3
The board of recreation commissioners may acquire lands for public playgrounds and recreation places, by gift or purchase, and it shall from time to time select lands for public playgrounds and recreation places, and when deemed necessary or advisable by such board, select lands for an approach or approaches by way of ingress thereto and egress therefrom of such size and dimensions as they shall think suitable, regard being had to the population of the neighborhood.
They shall cause surveys and maps to be made thereof together with a careful estimate, as nearly accurate as may be, of the probable costs of acquiring such lands, and a statement of the annual rental and duration of term, if it is proposed to lease the same, together with an estimate of the cost of preparing such lands and suitably equipping the same by the erection of buildings, stands, seats and other structures and apparatus for such playgrounds and recreation places.
Such surveys, maps and estimates shall be submitted to the board or body of the county or municipality having control of the finances, with a request that an appropriation be made for the purpose of acquiring or leasing such lands, as the case may be, and suitably preparing and equipping the same.
N.J.S. § 40:12-3