Utah State Parks officials have announced that Red Fleet State Park near Vernal has been closed for the winter due to budget cutbacks.

The gates at the park were closed Nov. 1 and will remain closed until March 31, 2010. All facilities at the park have been shut down and there are no services and no staff, including emergency help.

While the state agency can't physically keep visitors out, Utah State Park officials are asking people to refrain from visiting Red Fleet until it reopens.

"We had to do something to meet our [budget] needs," said Jim Harland, Northeast Region manager of Utah State Parks. "Short of having to close the park permanently, this is the best we could do."

The closure affects anglers who ice fish at Red Fleet more than any other group. Closing Red Fleet will save money on seasonal employee salaries, maintenance costs and snow removal. Officials encourage those who had plans to visit Red Fleet Reservoir this winter to consider going to nearby Steinaker Reservoir.

Red Fleet State Park is 13 miles north of Vernal on U.S. 191. In addition to camping and fishing, the park has 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks.

State officials said there are currently no plans to close other state parks for the winter.