National Night Out a 3-day event in Naperville
Get to know your neighbors, hang out with your local police officers and public service workers, look out for each other's well-being and have fun doing it.
That's the idea behind National Night Out, observed the first Tuesday of August in cities and towns across the country.
"It's a national drug- and crime-awareness event that we celebrate locally. It's neighbors getting to know neighbors. It's city personnel visiting locations in a positive way," said Julie Smith, crime prevention specialist with the Naperville Police Department and Naperville's National Night Out coordinator.
Naperville is celebrating its 22nd National Night Out with two extra events that will be added to Tuesday's main celebration this year.
"Last year, we started doing a kickoff event," Smith said.
This year's kickoff will be a pool party from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 31, at Centennial Beach on Jackson Avenue open to the public with no admission fee for those who bring a food donation for Loaves and Fishes Community Services.
In addition to swimming, the event will feature food, beverages, entertainment provided by the The River 95.9-FM, and a demonstration by the police department's underwater recovery team, Smith said.
Tuesday, Aug. 1, will see block party-style events in neighborhoods throughout the city from 6 to 9 p.m.
"We're up to 50 (neighborhoods) now. That's really a record for us," said Smith.
Smith said the annual event strengthens relationships within communities and between residents, police and other city officials.
"It's really greatly effective," she said. "We're lucky in Naperville to have a really positive relationship with the community."
Representatives from city departments including police, fire, public works, electric, water utility and animal control, in addition to representatives from the Naperville Park District, will be involved, visiting various neighborhood sites.
A third event presented in conjunction with the city's observance of National Night Out will be an emergency vehicle show. Smith said about 50 vehicles, both new and vintage, will be on display, including SWAT tactical units.
The show, presented by the city and the Downtown Naperville Alliance, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, on Jackson Avenue between Eagle and Main streets. The street will be closed to traffic during the show.
Smith said the free vehicle show also has a Kids Cycle Mania event with a "bike rodeo" safety course that young cyclists can try, along with helmet fittings, giveaways and safety information.
This year's theme in Naperville is "Lock It or Lose It," a campaign designed to remind residents to lock windows and doors in vehicles, homes and garages to curb property crime.