CLAYTON • Gov. Jay Nixon threw a lifeline to St. Louis County's threatened park system on Wednesday, offering the state's help in managing some parks marked for closure.

County Executive Charlie A. Dooley announced last month that he planned to close 23 of the county's 50 active parks, including Lone Elk, George Winter, Fort Bellefontaine, Greensfelder and all three county-operated swimming pools, due to what the administration has described as a budget crisis. Dooley also said he would lay off about 140 parks workers, close county government's West County Satellite Center, increase some permit fees and reduce snow plowing in some unincorporated areas.

Nixon said that he had offered assistance to Dooley. In particular, the governor mentioned Lone Elk Park, which is adjacent to Castlewood State Park. Nixon said such a state-county operation there would save money.

"Whether they're county, state or national parks, America's outdoor spaces are jewels to be treasured," Nixon said.

Dooley's spokesman, Mac Scott, called Nixon's offer "generous."

"This is, potentially, some really good news," Scott said. "I think most people would agree that any solution that results in keeping the parks open is a desirable outcome."

Scott said that the county and the state had not discussed which parks could be part of the plan, or when such a joint operation would happen.

County Council Chairman Steve Stenger has said that the threat to close the parks was actually Dooley's ruse to gain a tax increase that Stenger said the county does not need.

Dooley has denied such a tactic.

The county's chief operating officer, Garry Earls, said last month that the county hoped to share management of some parks with other governmental entities. He cited the possibilities that Lone Elk would go to the Missouri Department of Conservation; Greensfelder to the city of Wildwood; George Winter to Fenton; and Bon Oak to Dellwood.

Earls initially said that some of the parks, including Lone Elk, could be sold. However, Dooley dismissed that possibility at a special budget meeting Tuesday night.

State Rep. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Committee, questioned whether a sales tax dedicated to state parks could be used to fund parks outside that system.

"People voted for that tax to fund state parks," Cauthorn said. "I would be concerned if we're talking about shifting that money to municipal parks. I'd also be concerned with any plan for the state to take over any county parks."

Jason Hancock of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.