I work for a small ministry. We operate a park where we allow churches to come out and feed the homeless in our neighborhood every Saturday. The property that our park is located on is owned by several different individuals. Some of these people have not paid taxes for sometime, others simply don't care about the property, and still others are under the illusion that the property is worth way more than it is. None of these individuals have done or paid for any of the upkeep on this property for at least 6 years that we have been here, including mowing or keeping it litter-free. We have taken care of all of this, in fact we even have a fence around the park which we erected. What are our rights pertaining to this property? Another, larger national ministry is looking to purchase some of this property and split it up so that it would not be able to be used as it is now. We would like to stop this from happening.

... The property that our park is located on is owned by several different individuals. ...



Adverse possession in most places requires that you believe the land to be yours. I don't think this would apply in your case if indeed you know others actually own it.

Here (http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/htmlopinion.asp?opinionid=2000871) is a good case to start with dealing with adverse possession under Texas law. As you can see, the pertinent SOL is 10 years.

But I doubt it even falls under this, and I almost never make a moral comment on the legal board but to be honest I will be very blunt for a ministry, to be talking about taking ownership away from the real owners just makes me sick, If you can not legally buy it, just merely taking it is about as unchristian thing I have ever heard of.