South Elgin goes all out for National Night Out

South Elgin is going all out this year for National Night Out, with a concert by suburban favorite 7th heaven and ramped up activities throughout Jim Hansen Park.

For the first time, the village's event from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday will include a stage at the park's soccer field, and the closure of Concord Avenue from Medford Drive to Valley Forge Avenue. 7th heaven will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

It's all about bringing the community together in a family-friendly event, said Jim Creighton, village police's new community relations/crime prevention officer.

"This is what National Night Out stands for - bringing the citizens, the neighborhood, businesses, other agencies and all of us in law enforcement in a positive setting."

Performances will include the South Elgin High School choir, karate self-defense for kids, "Those Funny Little People" puppets and a "magic drug prevention" show.

A medical helicopter owned by Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service will land, weather permitting, at 6:30 p.m. at the softball field.

There will be new and antique fire engines and police squad cars, a display by the Kane County SWAT team, and police dog and motorcycle demonstrations by South Elgin police. Branches of the U.S. military, along with the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement will participate.

Displays include artwork by elementary school students and traveling animals from Randall Oaks Zoo.

Target is donating a car seat and at least two kids bikes for a raffle and Home Depot is giving out free coupons for light bulbs so residents can light the exterior of their homes, Creighton said. "Most crime happens at night, so if we can help with that, that's a good thing," he said.

The Salvation Army will provide free lemonade, and the Bear family, which owns several McDonald's franchises, donated 1,000 free coupons for ice cream cones. There will be food for sale.

The neighborhood's response has been positive, said Creighton, who last week went door-to-door with Deputy Chief Randy Endean to inform people. "People were really receptive, and really surprised," he said.

Doing such a large-scale event was his idea, Creighton said, but organizing it was a true team effort.

"From the village president (Steve Ward) to Mr. (Steve) Super (the village administrator) and parks and rec, public works, community development, the fire department - everybody jumped on board with wanting this to be the size it is."