SPRINGFIELD - At least two state parks in central Illinois could be spared from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chopping block, a congressman suggested Friday.

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, an Urbana Republican, says he believes Blagojevich needs to get federal approval if he wants to close Moraine View State Park near LeRoy and Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton.

Johnson spokesman Phil Bloomer said improvements to the parks were funded by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, giving the U.S. Department of the Interior the right to nix any closure.

The state could pay back the federal dollars and move forward with closing the facilities, but that would negate some of the savings Blagojevich is seeking to wring out of the closings as part of his budget battle with the Legislature.

Blagojevich announced last month his plan to close 11 state parks and more than a dozen state historic sites.

It wasn't clear Friday whether nine other state parks targeted by Blagojevich might have received federal funds, but Wolf Creek State Park sits on the shore of federally managed Lake Shelbyville and Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park near Sheffield was developed with federal transportation grants.

Marcelyn Love, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said the Blagojevich administration is studying the federal funding issue.

"We're looking into the situation," Love said Friday.

Jason Holm, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the federal government is reviewing the targeted facilities.

"Our federal aid division definitely knows about this," Holm said.

Johnson expressed his concerns to the governor Friday in a letter co-signed by Republican U.S. Reps. John Shimkus of Collinsville, Jerry Weller of Morris and Donald Manzullo of Leaf River.

"Due to a potential violation of federal law, we ask that you reconsider your decision to close any state parks that have received federal funding under LWCF," the letter notes.

The potential federal concerns are the latest to be raised since the governor announced the closures.

The Illinois House voted Wednesday to restore funding to keep the facilities open, but the Senate is not expected to return to action until Nov. 12. The governor has said the parks will close Nov. 1.

The state also is facing at least one lawsuit stemming from his parks plan. LeRoy businessman Thomas Pliura operates a horse outfitting company at Moraine View and is threatening to sue to keep the governor from closing the facility.

In their letter, the congressmen urge Blagojevich to back off.

"While we are certainly aware of the budgetary constraints that currently exist within the state, the closure of these state parks and historical sites in not an answer to the problem. These closures are harmful to the local economies and local jobs that rely on visitor's access to these public areas. We ask that you keep these recreational areas open for public use," the congressmen noted.