The board of chosen freeholders of any county is authorized and empowered to acquire by gift, grant, contribution, devise, bequest or condemnation, lands and interests therein, within their respective counties, and to hold, develop, control, maintain and regulate the same for public park, public recreation, public welfare and hospital purposes; provided, however, that the power herein conferred upon a board of chosen freeholders to acquire by condemnation lands and interests therein shall not be exercised to acquire, for any of the purposes of this act, any lands or interests therein owned, used, or to be used by a public utility, as defined in section 48:2-13 of the Revised Statutes, in furnishing any commodity or service which by law it is authorized to furnish.
N.J.S. § 40:32-2.1