As home builders in the Twin Cities, we know how important community is and planning your National Night Out is a great way to enhance your community. A thriving community is not only a wonderful place to raise a family. Neighborhoods where residents know one another are safer, than those where they do not. In Minnesota, with our long winters, it can be challenging to keep track of who is moving in and out of the neighborhood. One of the best ways to stimulate that neighborhood connection is to get to know your neighbors. And the best way to get to know your neighbors is by hosting a community gathering, BBQ, or block party. National Night Out is a way to start this wonderful tradition.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community
partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make your neighborhoods safer, and better places to live.

The National Night Out is designed to:

  • Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
  • Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs;
  • Strengthen neighborhood spirit; and
  • Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

National Night Out takes place the first Tuesday in August, this year it’s August 2nd. That means there’s more than a month to prepare for your neighborhood event.

Planning your National Night Out

  1. Talk to your neighbors, and ask for a few volunteers to help organize the event.
  2. Choose which kind of event – pot luck, ice cream social, BBQ, etc.
  3. Choose a time and place – National Night Out is August 2nd, but you don’t have to have it on that date. A weekend may be more convenient for many residents.
  4. Create a flyer and leave it at the doors of your neighbors.
  5. Invite local fire station and police to stop by.
  6. Encourage neighbors to bring chairs, paper plates, cups etc and don’t forget a large trash bin to collect debris at the end of the evening.

Set out a clipboard so people can jot down their phone numbers and email addresses. Make copies and distribute after the party. Consider creating a Facebook group for your neighborhood, too.

To learn more about National Night Out check out your local police departments page or click here for the National Night Out website.