(a) The Tennessee historical commission is authorized to expend any funds appropriated or available to it in the repair, renovation and restoration of the mansion house, Cragfont, and the improvement of the premises for use by the general public as a park, as picnic grounds, and for other related purposes.
(b) The commission is authorized, in lieu of contracting itself for the repair, renovation and restoration of the mansion house, to authorize the Sumner County Chapter of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities to contract for same, within the limit of the funds set aside for such purpose, and to furnish the funds to the Sumner County Chapter of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, to be used for that purpose, under such safeguards as the commission may prescribe.