ARTICLE 3. Municipal Park Abandonment Law of 1939 [38501. - 38510.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 3.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38501. Section 38501.

The legislative body may abandon all or any portion of a park and sell the land comprising it pursuant to this article, if it finds that all or any portion of the purported park has not been used by the public for park purposes, that no consideration has been paid for the land except by the city, and that no public funds have been expended to improve the land as a park, in either of the following situations: (a) When any land within the city limits has been dedicated for park purposes by the recording of a plat or map in the office of the county recorder, or otherwise. (b) When any such land has been purchased for park purposes and the legislative body finds that all or any portion of the land is not appropriate, convenient, or necessary for park purposes.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38502. Section 38502.

If the land comprising all or any part of such park has been purchased from funds realized from the sale of bonds of a bond issue authorized for the purpose of acquiring the land for park purposes, the question of abandonment of all or a part of the park and the sale or conveyance of the land shall first be submitted to, and approved by, the voters of the city at the next municipal election or at a special election called for that purpose.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38503. Section 38503.

Before abandoning all or a part of such park, the legislative body shall adopt a resolution of intention, describing the park or the portion of it proposed to be abandoned and fixing a time, at least 30 days after adoption of the resolution, when it will meet to take final action.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38504. Section 38504.

The resolution shall be published pursuant to Section 6063 in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city or, if there is none, in any newspaper designated by the legislative body which is published in the county. Not less than four copies of the resolution shall be posted conspicuously not more than 100 feet apart along the boundaries of the park.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38505. Section 38505.

At the time stated in the resolution, the legislative body shall meet, and hear and pass on objections to the abandonment of all or a portion of the park. If the legislative body sustains the objections, the proceedings shall terminate, and a new resolution of intention shall not be adopted for six months.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38506. Section 38506.

If all objections are overruled, the legislative body has jurisdiction to order all or any portion of the park abandoned and the land sold.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38507. Section 38507.

The legislative body may employ any legal or other assistants that it deems necessary to sell the land for the best advantage of the city, and may fix and pay their compensation.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38508. Section 38508.

The legislative body may order the land sold in one block or in lots or parcels, for cash or on credit, as it deems most advantageous to the city. Credit terms shall not exceed four years, and deferred payments shall bear a rate of interest of 6 percent a year. The legislative body shall determine when, at what price, and on what terms the land or any part of it shall be sold.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38509. Section 38509.

When authorized by a majority vote of the legislative body, the mayor and the city clerk shall sign, acknowledge, and deliver a deed to the land or part sold in the name and under the seal of the city. The deed when signed, acknowledged, and delivered conveys title to the land described in it.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 38510. Section 38510.

No abandonment or sale of a park pursuant to this article shall affect any private easement or other right in lands acquired or owned by any private person or corporation, nor shall such abandonment or sale affect any right, easement, or interest owned or under the control of any other governmental agency for public use other than park purposes. In the absence of an express or implied reservation of a right of reversion in the dedication or instrument of purchase, the park lands abandoned pursuant to this article shall not revert to private ownership.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026