MLK Day: Volunteers Restore Parks in Burien and SeaTac

Two Washington communities are transforming MLK Day into action by inviting neighbors to restore the forests that make their cities beautiful.

On Monday, January 19, 2026, volunteers will gather at North SeaTac Park from 10 a.m. to noon to clear invasive plants and clean up trail areas. Just a few miles away, another group will meet at Salmon Creek Ravine from 1:30 to 4 p.m. to remove common ivy choking out native plants and wildlife.

The events continue a nationwide tradition of honoring Martin Luther King Jr. through service rather than just remembrance. His words still echo: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

Green SeaTac and Green Burien are organizing the restoration work, with SeaTac Forest Steward Caitlin Konya leading the morning effort. Victoria Love from King Conservation District will guide the afternoon volunteers at Salmon Creek Ravine.

No special skills are needed. Organizers welcome anyone who wants to spend a few hours making their community better while connecting with neighbors who care about the same places.

The Ripple Effect

When volunteers pull invasive ivy from tree trunks and forest floors, they're giving native ferns, wildflowers, and shrubs room to breathe again. Those plants provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals that call these urban forests home.

The work also protects water quality in nearby Salmon Creek, where coho salmon return each year to spawn. Healthier forests mean cleaner streams and better habitats for wildlife that depend on them.

Beyond the environmental wins, MLK Day service projects build something harder to measure but just as valuable: community bonds. Neighbors who might never meet otherwise end up working side by side, sharing stories while sharing tools.

These small patches of restored forest become classrooms too, teaching kids and adults alike how ecosystems work and why every plant matters. The lessons stick when your hands are dirty and you can see the difference you're making.

Whether you join the morning crew at North SeaTac Park or the afternoon team at Salmon Creek Ravine, you'll be part of a movement that turns good intentions into tangible change.