by KYW's Ian Bush

It appears a controversial plan to close some New Jersey state parks and severely cut back services in others (see previous story) may be off the table, for now. 

But state agencies and environmental groups alike are warning they're not out of the woods yet.

All state parks, including Brendan Byrne State Forest in Burlington County -- one of the nine on the closure list -- received an e-mail this past week obtained by KYW Newsradio saying no park employees would be getting pink slips.

Lisa Jackson, New Jersey's DEP commissioner, says in her letter that's "very good news" -- though she says they haven't yet scored a touchdown:

"I'm a football fan. So I'll say the ball's certainly not across the goal line, but I think we're on a drive marching toward having a full park season this summer."

She speaks with caution since nothing's for sure until the budget's in black and white on June 1st:

"The budget process is far from over.  We're making decisions as best we can with the information we have.  I'm certainly optimistic that we'll be restoring services at our parks."

With the summer high season just weeks away, they're are now hiring lifeguards and other seasonal staff, though Jackson says they're proceeding with caution through that budget deadline:

"I'm optimistic, but cautious.  I'm mindful of the fact that nothing is certain until we have a final budget for our state, and we see what kind of money has been restored to parks."

New Jersey governor Jon Corzine hoped to save $4.5 million from park cutbacks.  

The DEP says even if that cash is restored this time, they'll have to "get creative" for the next budget go-round.

Since there's still the chance some such lands could go dim or dark in the future, the Sierra Club's Jeff Tittle says folks who use state parks need to stand up and speak out:

"It's the best way to make sure our parks stay open and that the heritage of New Jersey belongs to all of us, and will still be there for all of us.  We're moving in the right direction, but I think we need to keep the pressure on until we actually have a stable source of funding for our parks to make sure that they will stay open and will offer all the services that they to for the people in New Jersey."