Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures and events

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, honoring the civil rights leader who was slain nearly 50 years ago.

Here’s what you need to know about the federal holiday:

1. Many places will be closed in observance of the holiday, including federal, state, Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater offices. All Timberland Regional Library branches will be closed as well.

2. Some places will be open. Thurston County’s Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) in Lacey will be open. Check with your waste disposal company for curbside garbage and recycling collection schedule.

Burfoot Park, Frye Cove Park, Kenneydell Park and the Off-Leash Dog Park at the WARC will be open during regular park hours.

Intercity Transit offices will be open and buses will operate on regular schedules on the holiday. For more information, go to www.intercitytransit.com or call 360-786-1881.

3. There are several South Sound events that are scheduled to honor King’s legacy. Among them:

A MLK Day of Service Volunteer Work Party at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mission Creek Nature Park. The city of Olympia and Stream Team will be working with volunteers to plant more than 1,000 native plants and live tree stakes to help enhance the wetland and aquatic habitat at the park.

Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided. Dress for the weather and wear boots. Volunteers should park at Roosevelt Elementary School, 1417 San Francisco Ave. NE, and follow signs to the trail head. Youth younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult and anyone younger than 18 must have a signed waiver or have a parent’s signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Pre-register and get more information at streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar/.

Lacey MLK Day of Service Volunteer Work Party from 9:45 a.m. to noon Monday at Woodland Creek in Lacey. Stream Team and volunteers will plant new, and maintain existing, native trees and shrubs along Woodland Creek’s stream banks. Tools, gloves, warm beverages and sweet treats will be provided. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Pre-register and get more information at streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar/ .

Olympia Kiwanis’ Community Firewood Project will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at 3839 11th Ave. NW, Olympia. Volunteers are welcome to join crews with the Kiwanis, the Department of Ecology and the Washington Conservation Corp to split firewood for families in need.

4. It’s a great day to visit parks. A Discover Pass is not required to visit state parks on MLK Day. In addition, National Park Service sites that typically charge admission, such as Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park, are waiving fees on Monday.

This story was originally published January 12, 2018 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures and events."