The legislature of New Mexico, taking cognizance that the federal government, under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of June 14, 1926, as amended, has authorized the department of the interior to sell to the states federal land at a price of two dollars fifty cents ($2.50) per acre or to lease to the states land at the price of twenty-five cents ($.25) per acre a year, for recreational purposes, and the legislature taking further cognizance of the fact that public park and recreation areas are of vital importance in the development and growth of this state, and noting that valuable and scenic land areas within New Mexico may be purchased or leased at minimal cost for development as park and recreational areas from either private or federal ownership, hereby authorizes the state park and recreation division [state parks division] to purchase or lease such lands in the name of the state.