National Night Out will be celebrated by millions of neighbors across the country

The best way to build a safer community is to know your neighbors and your surroundings. The simple act of getting to know your neighbors is the best form of crime prevention.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

National Night Out triumphs over a culture that isolates us from each other.

Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August. This year, on August 6 (or possibly another date), neighborhoods will host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel with their vehicles, exhibits and much, much more.

How did it start and how has it changed?

National Night Out was introduced in August of 1984 through National Association of Town Watch, an already established network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and volunteers across the nation. The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states.

National Night Out grew to become a celebration beyond just front porch vigils and symbolic efforts amongst neighbors to send a message of neighborhood camaraderie. Neighborhoods across the nation began to host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with a carnival-like atmosphere.

After 36 years, National Night Out now encompasses 38 million neighbors in 16,000 communities. Over a hundred cities in Kansas and Missouri have celebrations planned.

For more information, or to register an event in your community, go to www.natw.org. To see if a celebration is being held in your neighborhood, click on the About tab and scroll down.

Local events scheduled with your neighbors

Here are some of the local events that are currently scheduled Aug. 6^th:

• Budd Park, 199 Hardesty, KCMO, 6-8 PM
• Waterfall Park, S. Bass Pro Drive, KCMO
• NCPP NNO, 5-6 PM, 18th and Ridge, Kansas City, KS
• NNO events, 5-7 PM,  Sapling Grove, 8210 Grant and Windham Hill Park,12950 Melrose, Overland Park
• NNO Kick-off Party, Friday, Aug. 9, 5:30-7:30 PM , Hy-Vee, 29^th & Wanamaker, Topeka
• Topeka area NNO events (over 70 Safe Streets events) will be held Aug. 10 this year.

Sometimes, NNO events in larger communities are coordinated by a local organization, so you might have to search the internet for National Night Out and your city name, or look on social media for National Night Out events in your area.

Kansas City Area Community Calendar of Events