Lake Co. towns to participate in National Night Out

A handful of Lake County towns will participate in National Night Out activities on Tuesday, Aug. 3.

In Vernon Hills, citizens of all ages are invited to enjoy a variety of free family-friendly activities organized by the Vernon Hills Police Department to help foster police-community relations. This summer's event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hartmann Park, on Oakwood Road, south of Route 45.

Activities include an inflatable playground, a sand volleyball tournament, a live DJ, crafts and games, and a barbecue.

The event is free to attend and all residents are encouraged to participate. The police department is looking for neighborhoods to field a volleyball team to challenge them in a tournament. Additional information about the tournament is available at VHPD.com, or call (847) 247-4889.

In Mundelein, a flashlight walk is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria del Popolo Church parking lot, which is at Seymour Avenue and Courtland Street. There also will be games and activities for kids, and a chance to meet police officers and check out their squad cars. For more information, call officer Kathleen Smith at (847) 968-4600.

In Fox Lake, the event starts at 7 p.m. at Grant High School, 285 E. Grand Ave. Participants will walk the neighborhood off Devlin Road surrounding Grant and Stanton Middle School. For more information, contact the Fox Lake Police Department at (847) 587-3100.

National Night Out, now in its 27th year, draws tens of millions of participants nationwide. The purpose is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and community-police partnerships and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back, according to the National Association of Town Watch website.