Safety, fun coincide during National Night Out

Neighbors gathered throughout DuPage County Tuesday for an evening of socializing, meeting with law enforcement and municipal officials, and coming together against crime during the annual National Night Out observance.

In Naperville, 37 neighborhoods hosted gatherings for National Night Out, which city spokeswoman Kate Schultz said was an increase of 10 from last year.

Some Naperville events included bike parades to highlight bicycle safety. A couple featured ice cream or free pizza won in a contest from Aurelio's Pizza.

Naperville police stopped at each gathering to take back prescription drugs from residents who no longer need them in an effort to remove temptations for young people to experiment with painkillers, which can be highly addictive.

"Not only is the event safety-focused, with crime prevention information and a prescription drug take-back program," Schultz said in an email, "but it's a lot of fun."

Similar activities took place across the region, including a first-time observance at Benedictine University in Lisle.