Six towns win awards for their National Night Out events

Itasca and a handful of other DuPage County towns have been named winners of this year's National Night Out Award.

The award, sponsored by Target, has been given to Itasca and Wood Dale in the under 15,000 population category. Bartlett, West Chicago, Roselle and Carol Stream won the award in the 15,000 to 49,999 population category.

Dozens of area communities participated in this year's 25th annual National Night Out, a crime and drug prevention event organized by police and fire departments, businesses, and other government bodies.

Itasca was third place in its category, and has been ranked in the top 13 for the past five years.

"It's huge for us," Itasca Police Chief Scott Heher said. "We're really pleased with the award, and it's something that we've worked really, really hard at."

In August, Itasca's event included a U.S. Army climbing wall and slide for kids.

The park district also opened up its water park, the library had Bingo for Books and the fire department had its trucks and apparatus on display.

"All of them played such an important role in bringing the community together for that event," Heher said. "It's an opportunity for residents to spend more time with police officers in the community, and it's a pretty cool way in which to encourage interaction with the community."

Next year's National Night Out event is expected to be Aug. 4, and many area communities plan to participate again.