Police encourage residents to step outside for Night Out celebrate
It's a night to meet friends and neighbors. A chance to chat with police officers.
It's night to hang out, have a cookout - and possibly learn about crime prevention.
Local, state and regional police departments across the nation are encouraging communities to participate in the 2010 National Night Out, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 3.
The event, which was introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit, crime prevention organization, is designed to heighten drug and crime prevention awareness, as well as garner support for local anti-crime programs.
Originally celebrated through outdoor lighting and front porch vigils, events have expanded to block parties, cookouts, contests and more.
In its inaugural year, 400 communities in 23 states participated, averaging about 2.5 million Americans.
The 25th anniversary saw a tremendous boost, with 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide participating, averaging well over 36 million people.
Although some Fox Valley and Tri-Cities communities have smaller neighborhood block party celebrations planned, other communities, such as Crystal Lake and Harvard, have more elaborate schedules in order.
Crystal Lake's schedule includes karaoke, a baggo tournament, various contests and games, and an inflatable slide for children, as well as live entertainment.
Harvard's includes leasing out the city's aquatic center for the evening, allowing residents to gain access to the slides, diving boards, basketball and volleyball courts and sanded areas for free.
Elgin, although no citywide festival has been organized, plans to send several department officials and officers to 33 neighborhoods, an act that Cherie Aschenbrenner, part-time crime prevention specialist for the Elgin Police Department, said is common.
"We've never really planned anything extravagant, but having that police presence in the local neighborhoods is important," she said.