The Safe Streets organization is about to embark on its 26th year of National Night Out in the Topeka/Shawnee County community! This annual event, which will be held Saturday, August 6, brings neighborhoods together to connect with one another and local law enforcement. The simple act of getting to know your neighbors is the best form of crime prevention.
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In Shawnee County, neighborhoods are encouraged to hold individual events on August 6. As of the middle of May, there were nearly 25 neighborhoods registered! Neighborhoods’ activities vary – some may host an ice-cream social, cookout, potluck dinner, or a pool party. Some events are smaller with around 25 people, and others are larger with more than 300 attending. The next planning meeting is Tuesday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 101AB at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka. It is open to the public.
In 2021, Topeka/Shawnee County ranked 4th in the nation for cities of comparable size for the National Night Out events.
National Night Out event is coordinated through Safe Streets in partnership with local law enforcement, including the Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office, Topeka Fire Department, and Kansas Highway Patrol and with area businesses, including Evergy, Reser’s, Hy-Vee, Dillons, Federal Home Loan Bank, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and many others.
To sign up your neighborhood or to find out if your neighborhood has National Night Out plans, contact Safe Streets at 785.266.4606 or email jwilson@parstopeka.org. You don’t have to have a neighborhood organization to host an event, so contact your neighbors and Safe Streets and get involved.
Safe Streets, a program of Prevention and Resiliency Services, is a local crime prevention and substance abuse prevention organization in Topeka.
Safe Streets wants neighbors to talk and get to know one another – this plays a huge role in making our community safer. Contact Safe Streets for more information or to register your neighborhood by calling 785-266-4606. You can also email Judy Wilson at jwilson@safestreets.org.
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–Lee Hartman | Metro Voice
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