SPRINGFIELD - The state has sent letters to people who operate stables, restaurants and other businesses at state parks detailing what will happen if the parks close as planned at the end of November.

Among those affected include stables at Moraine View and Wolf Creek state parks and the Boondocks II restaurant at Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton.

Thomas Pliura, who owns horses used for trail rides at Moraine View, received a letter this week from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It lays out how he'll have to shut down his operation near LeRoy on Dec. 1.

Pliura has challenged the park closures in court and said the situation remains uncertain.

"They're inventing this process as they go," Pliura said.

Kayla Wilson-Koons has run Boondocks II at Weldon Springs for three years and faces the same deadline.

"We were really looking forward to a good winter," she said.

Aside from setting a Dec. 1 deadline to suspend the businesses leases, Pliura's letter suggests he can leave some of his equipment at the park, but there will be "no security" there if the park closes.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has planned to close 11 parks and 13 historic sites Nov. 30, saying a tight state budget meant he had to make cuts.

But some of those cuts might not happen. Federal land issues might prevent the parks' closure, and lawmakers have approved legislation to send Blagojevich more money to keep them open.

But Blagojevich doesn't necessarily have to spend it.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris McCloud said the agency is planning for the closures.

He said the state will work with business owners at the parks, but he said their leases could cease if the state doesn't have money to pay for them.

"We still don't know exactly what will happen," McCloud said.

Neither does Wilson-Koons. Though the state is proceeding with park closure plans, she's not sure she should do the same because they may remain open, after all.

"It's enough to drive you crazy," she said.

At Wolf Creek State Park on Lake Shelbyville, Kelly Bland has been running her stables there for just a year. She said if her lease gets thrown out when the park closes, she'll lose the tens of thousands of dollars in startup money she paid just this year.

Also, she employs six people at the stables.

"They are heartbroken," she said.

As for the state's historic sites, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency spokesman Dave Blanchette said no similar notices have been sent out. In fact, gift shops at the historic sites tagged for closure may be allowed to say open after Nov. 30, he said.

mike.riopell@lee.net|789-0865