LeROY - At Gibson's Concessions at Moraine View State Recreational Area the smell of Illinois greasy food is in the air. But the operator, Judy Gibson points to the section of her menu called "healthy whole wheat waffles." Then she points out the baked oatmeal and toast. Bicyclists ride from Bloomington regularly and eat the oatmeal and then bike back to Bloomington fueled by their wholesome breakfast.

They are some of the visitors who will no longer be able to come to Moraine View if the park is closed as planned as part of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget cuts that were announced Thursday. He plans to close two dozen state parks and historic sites this fall to help close a $1.4 billion budget state gap.

This Labor Day weekend many visitors came into the restaurant to sign a petition circulated by local residents to prevent the closings. The petition has been available for signing at the restaurant since Friday. Sunday afternoon 12 pages sat on a table with roughly ten signatures each- and that was just the signatures that had been collected within the previous few hours.

Gibson said her business has 400,000 to 500,000 customers per year, and some of the revenue goes to the State of Illinois. Tri-Valley High School's cross country team trains at the park, breast cancer walks are held in the area, and hunters will lose 1,200 acres of hunting ground. But the effect the closing will have on low-income families and elderly seems to be what makes Gibson the most passionate.

"We've had tons of people tell us this year that this is their vacation," she said. "They can't afford to go to Six Flags or Chicago or Disneyland because of gas. They camp with their kids and walk around and fish and go horseback riding."

She cited a woman who is from LeRoy but who now lives in Westminster Village Continuing Care Retirement Community.

"Her friend told her the park was closing, and she cried and cried and cried," Gibson said.

Peggy Malcome of Bloomington and her family emerged from a docked boat on the Moraine View Lake that they rented for the day.

"You know it!" she replied when asked whether she had signed the petition.

She said the family comes to the park once a month to ride bicycles and boat and have picnics. They can spend an entire day at the park for $35.

Allison Malcome, 8, said she has "funness" at the park.

"I'd hate to see this place close," said Terry Malcome, Peggy's husband.

"How can you just close a lake?" asked Peggy in astonishment.