The National Park Service and other agencies are joining forces to ensure a safe and memorable Independence Day for an estimated half-million Washington-area residents and visitors.

More than 20 law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security; the Pentagon; and agencies in Prince George’s County, Alexandria and Arlington, will work with the National Park Service on the ground, in the air and behind the scenes, U.S. Park Police Chief Dwight Pettiford said at a recent news conference. Officials will be in cars and on foot, horseback and bicycles. In addition, both the National Park Service and the D.C. police will have helicopters monitoring the region.

Pettiford said his entire force will work 12-hour shifts to ensure a safe holiday.

“All hands are on deck for the Fourth of July,” Pettiford said.

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Pettiford said though the day’s festivities naturally put the region and its citizens and visitors at a heightened security risk, he’s not aware of an increased threat to the D.C. region for the holiday in light of recent terrorism events in England and Scotland.

All visitors to the National Mall and motorists using sections of the George Washington Memorial Parkway must enter safety checkpoints, which have been widened this year to speed safety procedures, Pettiford said. The Mall opens to visitors at 10 a.m. today.

In addition to safety precautions, about 100 doctors and nurses will work at first-aid stations to assist visitors, 550 portable toilets around the Mall will be available to visitors, and two new food and gift kiosks will open near the Lincoln Memorial.

The National Park Service is advising visitors to use Metrorail and buses for transportation, since parking is limited in the area. Several roads will be closed from 6 a.m. until after the 9:10 p.m. fireworks show on the Mall.

Fast facts

» About 15 million tourists visit the District of Columbia each year, allowing the city to rake in $125 million in tax dollars annually from tourism. An estimated 500,000 tourists will visit the nation’s capital today, filling 70 percent of available space in hotels, said Vicki Isley, senior vice president of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation.

» The National Park Service is prohibiting grills, alcohol, glass bottles, personal fireworks and tents that require stakes or that will obstruct views of the fireworks show on the National Mall grounds, George Washington Memorial Parkway property and all federal park lands. All backpacks, coolers, packages and people will be subject to search.