Attention walkers/joggers/tourists in Olympia: This popular trail will be closed Tuesday

The switchback trail at Heritage Park that leads to the Capitol will close on Tuesday for maintenance, according to the state’s Department of Enterprise Services.

Maintenance includes trimming overgrown plants and filling in ruts. Crews will also install erosion control measures including boulders and plants at each switchback corner. This helps stabilize the hillside, reduces pollution from runoff and helps plants grow.

“Trail cutting” — i.e., taking a shortcut instead of following the trail — has killed vegetation and increased soil erosion. In April, erosion control features were installed as part of a pilot project. They included new signs, cable strand fencing and piles of tree and shrub branches to block shortcuts.

Enterprise Services maintains the 486-acre Capitol Campus, which includes Capitol Lake and Heritage Park. Last month it closed Sylvester Park for 10 days to revive grass there. It is now working on the lawn near the Capitol.

This story was originally published October 7, 2017 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Attention walkers/joggers/tourists in Olympia: This popular trail will be closed Tuesday."