The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said it will need to close at least 35 state parks for the summer and reduce public access to state forests under a state Senate budget plan passed last week that slashes departmental appropriations.

Such closures would turn away more than 3 million park visitors and eliminate at least $57 million in recreation spending on products and services in communities around the closed parks, John Quigley, DCNR acting secretary, said today.

"Families that cannot afford to take a vacation because of the tough economic times could always count on enjoying a little rest and relaxation at a nearby state park or forest, However, if the Senate's budget proposal is enacted, there would be even fewer of those opportunities as we would have to close a number of state parks," Mr. Quigley said.

The budget, passed on a party line vote by the Republican controlled Senate, cuts an additional $19 million from the DCNR budget that had already been reduced in Gov. Ed Rendell's budget proposal approved by the state House. Negotiations on the competing state funding plans will take place in coming weeks with a goal of passing a final budget by July 1.

Chris Novak, a DCNR spokeswoman, said the department hasn't decided which of the state's 117 parks would be closed if the Republican budget version was adopted, but it is looking at options. She said the department would avoid closing its biggest "destination" parks, including Presque Isle in Erie, Ohiopyle in Fayette County and Point State Park in Pittsburgh.

"Most of our money goes to staffing, and if we don't have the people to run the programs and the parks we have to shut down the parks and those services," Ms. Novak said. "Under the governor's budget we were already looking at some serious belt tightening but we were doing that on a park-by-park basis and wouldn't have to close any parks."

In addition to the park closings, according to the DCNR, the Senate budget would necessitate many public recreational and informational program cutbacks, the elimination of forest conservation and health programs like gypsy moth spraying, and the removal of state forest rangers who perform law enforcement and public service duties.

"The Senate's proposal would be absolutely devastating to these rural areas and to our efforts to preserve our natural resources for present and future generations," Mr. Quigley said.