Faced with state budget cuts to close a $1.6 billion funding gap, Georgia parks officials voted Wednesday to close a number of state parks and historic sites this year and next, scrap new positions and outsource state-run lodges and golf courses.

The Department of Natural Resources did not say which facilities might be closed, but said up to six parks and seven historic sites could be shuttered. A decision would have to be approved by the state’s budget office.

“All agencies were told to make 6, 8 and 10 percent budget cuts for 2009 and again for 2010,” DNR spokeswoman Beth Brown said. “That is a $6.9 million cut at 6 percent and an $11.5 million cut at 10 percent.”

Prior budget cuts and the fact they are involved in land management have made the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division personnel heavy, and its budget has sustained budget reductions since 2002, officials said.

“This is a tremendous resource that has been built up over the years,” said Andy Fleming, executive director of Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites. “These cuts are simply too deep for the PRHSD staff to continue to manage without affecting service to the public.”

Previous budget tightening has meant ongoing maintenance, purchasing equipment and adding staff are all areas that have been in decline, he said.

If approved, those decisions would apply for the rest of the current fiscal year and be subject to legislative oversight for fiscal year 2010, officials said.

“This is not something we take lightly,” DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb said regarding the proposed reductions. “But at some point you’ve got to have enough employees at a facility to ensure public safety and public service.”

Officials expect the governor’s Office of Planning and Budget to provide guidance regarding the budget within four to six weeks.

“Once the budget figures are announced, a review will be undertaken regarding specific parks,” Mr. Fleming said. “The parks have managed through (previous) budget cuts by deferring maintenance and limiting hours of operation.”

Georgia has had a parks fee system since 1991, with money collected used for park maintenance and repair.

A percentage of those fees goes to the DNR, with the remainder being returned to the site where it was collected.

The money in years past has paid to pave the rim trail at Cloudland Canyon Park, build restrooms at the Vann House in Murray County and renovate campgrounds at Fort Mountain State Park near Chatsworth.

“People still want to add parks to the system,” Mr. Fleming said. “The focus now should be on the governor and legislators to let them know how important local parks are to communities.”

Conservationists warned closing parks visited by 10 million people a year is a shortsighted move as high gas prices make local parks an increasingly attractive vacation alternative.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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