Grand Rapids residents are invited to participate in a national community event.
Residents are encouraged to turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outdoors on their porches, lawns, streets or in parks with their neighbors as part of National Night Out, Tuesday, Aug. 2.
The nationwide event is held each year on the first Tuesday of August and seeks to promote community and crime prevention.
Several Grand Rapids neighborhoods will host family-friendly activities in celebration of National Night Out. During the evening, Grand Rapids police and fire personnel and city leaders will visit and connect with residents during these events.
Julie Niemchick, crime prevention coordinator for the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD), said when residents and police work together in their neighborhoods, good things happen.
“National Night Out is a time when residents can reclaim their streets in a fun and positive way,” Niemchick said. “Some neighborhoods have chosen to make this night particularly significant as they coordinate a variety of family-friendly activities to get everyone involved.”
In addition to neighborhood activities, the city’s parks and recreation department will offer free admission to all three city pools from 5:30-7 p.m.
The city, GRPD and several neighborhood associations and block clubs are sponsoring this year’s National Night Out.
National Night Out Neighborhood Sponsored Events
Baxter Neighborhood Association — music, food, games, resource tables
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Joe Taylor Park, 1011 Baxter St. SE
Berkley Hills Church — games for all ages, inflatables, shaved ice, carnival food, petting zoo
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Berkley Hills Church, 1670 Ball Ave. NE
Creston Neighborhood — food, games, arts and crafts, resource and vendor tables
Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: Briggs Park, 324 Knapp St. NE
Fuller Area Neighbors and MLK Neighborhood Association — food, bounce house, face painting
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: Fuller Avenue Church, 1239 Fuller Ave. SE
Garfield Park Neighborhood Association — story time in the park, informational tables, family activities, snacks
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Location: Garfield Park, 250 Burton St. SE
Heritage Hill Association — community building, resources, activities, ice cream
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Pleasant Park, 400 Pleasant St. SE
John Ball Area Neighbors and West Grand Neighborhood Organization — food trucks, kids’ activities, superheroes, zoo animals, resource tables
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Park Lodge Building, 1120 Bridge St. NW
Neighbors of Belknap Lookout — back to school stuff swap, informational tables, games, snacks and desserts, participatory budgeting information
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 701 Coit Ave. NE
North East Citizen Action Association — grand opening of Beckwith Hills community playground, music, food, games
Time: TBD
Location: Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed Church, 2100 Chelsea Road NE
Ottawa Hills Neighborhood Association — kids’ activities, animals, face painting, ice cream
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School, 1050 Iroquois Drive SE
Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association — games, giveaways, ice cream
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Location: Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School, 1205 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW
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