As residents of OKC gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday, city officials have laid out the schedule for various services around town for November 27 and 28. In a statement to the public released yesterday, the City of Oklahoma City announced that city offices will close for these two days in observance of the holiday.
On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, there will be no trash and recycling pick-up. Residents should plan for a makeup day on Saturday, Nov. 29. However, bulky waste collection will proceed as scheduled. Transport services, such as OKC buses, the OKC Streetcar, RAPID, and OKC PLUS Zone 1 ADA Paratransit, plan to offer free fares. Notably, the OKC buses will follow a weekend schedule, but RAPID plans to operate on a 30-minute frequency from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as mentioned on the same news.
For those working on Black Friday or partaking in the annual retail frenzy, the city services will resume regular operations. Details from the City of OKC indicate that trash, recycling, and bulky waste collection will function as usual. City buses, including RAPID, the OKC Streetcar, and OKC PLUS Zone 1 ADA Paratransit, will also follow regular weekday schedules, but with reduced hours for Transit Center Customer Service and the 235-RIDE Call Center, operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City holiday closures include the Municipal Court, Animal Welfare, and all OKC Parks recreational facilities such as community centers, gyms, and aquatic centers, though outdoor parks will remain accessible from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Martin Park Nature Center and the outdoor grounds of the Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center and Ed Lycan Conservatory will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., respectively. For those handling citations, the Municipal Court has encouraged residents to pay online at okc.gov, according to the City of Oklahoma City.
Despite the closures and modified service schedules, OKC’s decision to offer free rides on certain services could be a gesture towards mitigating the hassle of holiday travel, and perhaps even encouraging participation in the "Downtown in December" events. The City reminds all who may rely on public services during these days to plan and adjust their schedules accordingly.
