Illinois § 20

Full text of Illinois Illinois Compiled Statutes § 20, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 20.

The Chicago Park District is authorized to issue the bonds of such district for the payment of land condemned or purchased for park or boulevards, for the building, maintaining, improving, and protecting of such for the purpose of establishing, acquiring, completing, enlarging, ornamenting, building, rebuilding, and improving public parks, boulevards, bridges, subways, viaducts, and approaches thereto, wharfs, piers, jetties, air landing fields and basins, shore protection works, pleasure grounds and ways, walks, pathways, driveways, roadways, highways, and all public works, grounds, or improvements under the control of and within the jurisdiction of such park commissioners and including the filling in of submerged lands for park purposes and constructing all buildings, field houses, stadiums, shelters, conservatories, museums, service shops, power plants, structures, playground devices, boulevard and building lighting systems and building all other types of permanent improvement and construction necessary to render the property under the control of such park commissioners usable for the enjoyment thereof as public parks, parkways, boulevards, and pleasure ways and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto, and may pledge its property and credit therefor. Such district shall not incur any bonded indebtedness, exclusive of outstanding indebtedness to an amount in the aggregate exceeding 2.3% of the assessed valuation of all taxable property therein as last equalized and determined for state and local taxes preceding the incurring of such indebtedness. Bonds may be issued from time to time to an amount which together with the outstanding bonded indebtedness of such district, exclusive of bonds issued to create a working cash fund, will not exceed 1% of the assessed valuation of all taxable property therein as last equalized and determined for state and local taxes preceding the issuance of such bonds without submitting the question to the legal voters for approval. Except as otherwise provided in this Section and except for working cash fund bonds issued and to be issued under Section 2 of the Chicago Park District Working Cash Fund Act, bonds shall not be issued until the proposition to issue such has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the legal voters of such park district voting upon the proposition, at an election, after notice of such submission has been given in the manner provided by the general election law. Submission of any proposition of issuing bonds shall be authorized by resolution to be adopted by the Chicago Park District commissioners, which shall designate the election at which the question is to be submitted the amount of bonds and purpose for which such bonds are to be issued. Any proposition to issue bonds shall be certified by the Chicago Park District commissioners to the proper election officials, who shall submit that proposition in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shall bonds of the Chicago Park District to the amount of YES ........ Dollars ($........) be - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - issued for the purpose of...... NO ...............................? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bonds shall be issued in the name of the Chicago Park District in such form and denomination and shall be payable at such place and time, not exceeding 20 years from date thereof or, for bonds issued after July 24, 2003 (the effective date of Public Act 93-338), not exceeding 30 years from the date thereof, and may be redeemable prior to maturity with or without premium at the option of the commissioners, as such commissioners may determine by ordinance duly adopted and the bonds shall be signed by the president and attested by the secretary under the corporate seal. After such advertising as the commissioners shall deem necessary, the bonds shall be sold at such price and upon such terms as determined by the commissioners and which will not cause the net effective interest rate to be paid by the Chicago Park District to exceed that permitted in the Bond Authorization Act. The validity of any bond so executed shall remain unimpaired, although one or more of the officers executing such shall have ceased to be such officer or officers before delivery thereof to the purchaser. For the purpose of paying the principal of and interest upon such bonds, the Chicago Park District is authorized to levy and have collected a direct annual tax upon all taxable property within its jurisdiction, in addition to all other taxes authorized by law to be levied and collected for park purposes, sufficient to pay the interest on such bonds as it falls due and to pay the principal thereof as it matures, and the county clerk of the county in which such park district is located upon receiving a certificate from the commissioners that the amount set out in such certificate is necessary to pay the interest on and principal of such bonds, shall assess and extend such amount upon the taxable property embraced in such park district, the same as other park taxes are by law assessed and extended, and such taxes shall be collected and paid over in like manner as other park taxes are required by law to be collected and paid. (Source: P.A. 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois § 20

What does Illinois Compiled Statutes § 20 cover?

Section 20 is part of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, the codified statutory law of Illinois. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Illinois § 20?

A common citation format is "Illinois Compiled Statutes § 20" (Illinois). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Illinois law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Illinois official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Illinois attorney.

How does Illinois § 20 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Illinois can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Illinois.