By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
One thing Sgt. Brian Look is certain of is that Aug. 6 is going to be a busy night for the Wyoming Department of Public Safety.
It’s a good busy because that is National Night Out, when residents are encouraged to turn their porch light on and come out and meet their neighbors.
“This is one of the biggest years we have had for National Night Out,” Look said, adding that there are going to be a number of neighborhood and community events including the wrap up event for the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series at Lamar Park.
Started in 1984, National Night out is a nationwide movement created by the National Association of Town Watch to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Always the first Tuesday in August, the event has evolved to neighborhoods hosting block parties, festival, parades, cookouts and other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personal, exhibits and much more.
“National Night Out is one of my favorite nights of the year,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “I love seeing neighbors come together with our public safety personnel to promote safety and strengthen community engagement. Together we are building a stronger Wyoming.”
For the City of Wyoming, the activities start in the early morning with a kick-off celebration at Consumers Energy, 4000 Clay Ave. SW, from 5:30 – 8 a.m. Mayor Jack Poll will join other area mayors from Kentwood, Grandville, Walker and Grand Rapids for the reading of a joint mayoral proclamation at 7:15 a.m. Consumers Energy employees will be distributing energy-efficient LED light bulbs along Clay Avenue.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety will join several other law enforcement agencies for activities at Celebration! Cinema at RiverTown Crossings from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Look said most of the National Night Out programs take place in the evening from 5 – 9 p.m. Many of these activities in the City of Wyoming are specifically for the individual neighborhood, he said.
“We really do not have a big National Night Out party because the purpose is for people to get out of their houses and get to know their neighbors,” Look said. “You really want residents to get to know each other, because once they start to know each other, they start to care about one another and that creates that sense of community and pride which in turn helps deter crime.”
The Wyoming Concerts in the Park series will host the Shadows of the Night, music of the women of rock from 7 – 9 p.m. Other activities will be taking place along with a visit from a couple of representatives from the city’s most popular police unit, the K-9 Unit.
There are a few other community events as well. One of those is hosted by the South Godwin Neighborhood Association at Southlawn Park, 4125 Jefferson Ave. SE. Look said the South Godwin event is one of the city’s biggest National Night Out programs.
Other community National Night Out events are at Grace University, 1011 Aldon St. SW; Calvary Christian Reformed Church, 3500 Byron Center Ave. SW; and at Oriole Park, 1380 42nd St. SW. Look noted that the Oriole Park event usually features a children’s parade.
Also expect to see Mayor Jack Poll, who makes it a goal to visit as many of the National Night Out events as possible. Many of the City Council members will be visiting along with city staff and other area county and state officials.
