Kansas City Metro Area – Aug. 6

Tuesday, Aug. 6, is National Night Out Against Crime, and a number of cities in the Kansas City Metro Area are planning to observe this annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods better places to live.

All cities are encouraging families to turn their porch light on that evening between 6 and 8 to p.m. as a sign of support of the night’s theme of making neighborhoods better places to live. While some communities may celebrate with block parties, several cities have community-wide celebrations planned.

In Kansas City, KS, residents are encouraged to attend a community NNO celebration at 5 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge. Neighborhoods are encouraged to decorate a table and prizes will be given for the most creative table and for the most participants. Each group is encouraged to donate a gift item for the raffle.

In Overland Park in addition to block parties, the city has planned two community celebrations from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at Sapling Grove, 8210 Grant, and Windham Hill Park, 12950 Melrose. Block parties require a block party permit. For more information contact Rosalind Finch at 913-895-6346 or roz.johnsonfinch@opkansas.org

In Olathe, communities are encouraged to celebrate NNO with a cookout, block party, parade, or even an exhibit. To have the Olathe police or fire attend your party, contact Beth Wendel at 913-971-6323 or bwwendel@olatheks.org by Mon., July 29.

We found one community-based celebration in KCMO, from 6-8 p.m. in Budd Park, 199 Hardesty Ave. This event is hosted by the Friends of the KC Mounted Patrol and KCMO Police Dept.

Wichita – Aug. 13

Wichita’s annual Neighborhood Night Out will be held on Aug. 13. “Night Out” is a unique crime/drug prevention event that has neighbors and neighborhood associations around the city holding block parties to bring the community together. These block parties can be formal or informal.

If you register your block party, it gives police, firefighers, and other city officials the opportunity to stop by and introduce themselves to the neighborhood. Register your block party by July 29 if you want to request barricades or a neighborhood park free of charge by calling 316-352-4879. Otherwise, the deadline to register your event is Aug. 5. Registration online at www.wichita.gov/nno.

There is a limited number of available barricades this year, so act fast to get them! For more questions call 316-268-4165.