Park districts shall have all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities of a municipal corporation at common law and they shall be subject to the duties of a municipal corporation at common law. Except as otherwise limited in this chapter they shall have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, may use a corporate seal, may acquire by lease, purchase, gift, condemnation, or otherwise such real and personal property as the purposes of the board may require and may hold, manage, control, sell, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of such property or its interests therein. The board shall have full authority to exercise all the powers of the district, to make all necessary or desirable contracts, to procure public liability and other insurance protection as may be necessary or desirable, to hire and employ help and assistance as its needs require, to exercise the power of eminent domain, to enact ordinances, and to declare that the violation thereof shall be a penal offense and to prescribe the penalties thereof, not to exceed a fine of $100, or imprisonment in a statutory city or county jail for a period of not more than 90 days, or both, and in either case the cost of prosecution may be added to the penalties imposed. The board shall have full power and authority to acquire and establish parks and to operate, maintain, protect, improve and preserve a park system and to conduct a recreational program in its parks.