SPRINGFIELD - The Blagojevich administration is planning to lay off more than 450 workers and close nearly two dozen state parks and historic sites in response to the state's lingering budget impasse.

One union official described the plan as a "bloodbath" that will have wide-ranging effects on the services provided to state taxpayers.

Union officials said the Department of Children and Family Services will lose 304 workers, while the Department of Human Services will be cut by 73 employees.

An incomplete and unofficial list of parks targeted for closure includes Hidden Springs State Forest in Shelby County and several others in central and northern Illinois.

Historic sites that will close include the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston, the Bryant Cottage in Bement, the Cahokia Courthouse in Cahokia and Bishop Hill.

The cuts hit three historic sites in Randolph County - Fort Kaskaskia, Fort de Chartres and the Pierre Menard Home.

Details of when the parks and sites will be shuttered were not immediately available.

On Thursday, 43 unionized workers at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and 34 employees of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency received notice that they would be laid off in late October.

Blagojevich has said the cuts are necessary because he slashed $1.4 billion from the state's spending plan in July. He says the Democrat-controlled legislature wanted to spend more money than the state will receive in the coming fiscal year.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said the governor is trying to force the General Assembly to return to Springfield to approve new revenue streams.

"I know he's trying to make people feel the pain," Luechtefeld said.

The latest cuts come as other state agencies are grappling with the effects of the governor's actions.

On Wednesday, Comptroller Dan Hynes said his office was poised to lay off workers. Other statewide officers have imposed hiring freezes and are asking whether some workers want to take early retirement in a bid to trim costs.

Secretary of State Jesse White is mulling whether to close some driver's license facilities.

Blagojevich also has tied his plan to close Pontiac Correctional Center to the budget impasse.

The cuts at the Department of Natural Resources are troubling to some lawmakers because the agency has already lost scores of workers.

"It's obviously unfortunate," said state Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle.

Granberg, who is retiring as a lawmaker in January, said it will be a challenge rebuilding the state park system if money is ever restored to reopen them.

"It's going to be a hard road," Granberg said.

Luechtefeld agreed, saying historic preservation sites are at risk of being vandalized if they are shuttered and left unattended.

"These are agencies that had already been cut to the core before these cuts," Luechtefeld.

Check the Friday Herald & Review for the latest developments.