The purposes of this chapter are to create a county conservation board; to authorize counties to acquire, develop, maintain, and make available to the inhabitants of the county, public museums, parks, preserves, parkways, playgrounds, recreational centers, county forests, and wildlife and other conservation areas; to promote and preserve the health and general welfare of the people; to encourage the orderly development and conservation of natural resources; and to cultivate good citizenship by providing adequate programs of public recreation.