SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich has trimmed the number of state parks he plans to close to seven.

On Friday, administration officials said four of the original 11 parks slated for closure Nov. 30 as part of a budget cutting move had been spared. The parks that will remain open include Gebhard Woods, Kickapoo, Channahon Parkway and Hennepin Canal Parkway.

Even though lawmakers sent Blagojevich a plan to keep all the parks open, the governor decided to shutter seven anyway. They include Weldon Springs, Wolf Creek and Moraine View. Blagojevich is making no effort to keep any of the targeted historic sites open.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris McCloud said the state wanted to keep one of the targeted parks open in each region and chose to keep as many open as possible with the state's available money.

"There is enough money to keep these particular parks open," he said.

McCloud said he didn't know what it would take to eventually reopen the others.

"We're just trying to take it one step at a time," he said.

On Friday afternoon, the state's largest employees union had not been notified of the latest wrinkle in the governor's budget strategy.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spokesman Anders Lindall said the union continues to believe there is enough money in the budget to keep all of the parks and historic sites open.

"We'll be disappointed with anything short of that," Lindall said.

The threatened closures have been one of the most highly visible results of the state's deep financial problems. Illinois isn't alone. Florida might close 19 of its state parks next year.

The decision to spare the four parks came a day after Blagojevich signed off on parts of a plan lawmakers sent him that was intended to keep 11 state parks and 14 state historic sites open past their planned closing date.

Illinois lawmakers gave Blagojevich the power to skim money from a number of special state funds. He said about $55 million of the $230 million they made available is not allowed to be used because of federal rules.

State Rep. Mike Boland, an East Moline Democrat who represents part of Hennepin Canal, said he was happy to hear Hennepin would stay open but didn't know why it was picked over the others.

"There's going to be a lot of happy folks about that," Boland said.

"I don't try to guess the rationale behind things," he added.

On the other side, state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said it was "disappointing" parks such as Moraine View would now close Nov. 30. He said lawmakers didn't approve more money so the governor could pick and choose which parks to keep open.

"It just most likely sets up another attempt that we'll have to right the wrong," Brady said.

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said Wolf Creek State Park in his legislative district is economically self-sufficient and should not be among the parks targeted by Blagojevich.

"It's just more of the same unexplainable actions from this administration," Flider said. "It just defies explanation."

For the historic sites, the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington will remain open after Nov. 30 despite being scheduled for closure because private groups have offered to pick up the bill.

A spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency said the state is in talks with groups to keep other sites open, too, but nothing has been finalized.

Spokesman David Blanchette said the state hasn't yet planned on how to eventually reopen the facilities. But they're working on it, he said.

"We want to be ready if and when that occurs," Blanchette said.

This week, a small group of lawmakers floated another idea to keep the sites open. They want to allow local governments or interest groups to lease the sites to operate and maintain them while the state gets its finances in order.

That idea likely won't get much discussion until lawmakers meet again next year. Boland said that in a tough economy, close-to-home tourist spots could be important to Illinoisans.

"Many families are going to have to forego maybe longer trips," he said.

mike.riopell@lee.net / (217) 789-0865