53 Pa. Stat. § 3188
It shall be lawful for, and the right is hereby conferred upon, the cities of this Commonwealth to purchase, acquire, enter upon, take, use, and appropriate private property, for the purpose of making, enlarging, extending, and maintaining public parks, parkways, and playgrounds, within or without the corporate limits of such cities, and to enter upon, take, use, and appropriate any poorhouse properties, held for the accommodation of the poor of any districts, wards, or townships, within or without the corporate limits of such cities, for the purpose of making, enlarging, extending, and maintaining such public parks, parkways, and playgrounds whenever the councils thereof shall, by ordinance or joint resolution, determine thereon: Provided, That where said private property is outside of the city it may be annexed thereto by ordinance of such city: And provided, That where any poorhouse properties shall be so taken, and such cities shall have made adequate provisions for thereafter accommodating and supporting the poor of the districts, wards, or townships within such cities, wherein such poorhouses are located, nominal damages only shall be awarded for such taking, and the lands shall be held on condition that such cities shall continue to make such adequate provisions for the poor of such districts, wards, or townships.
53 P.S. § 3188