The city of Aurora came together Tuesday evening to join the rest of the country in observing National Night Out, a country-wide initiative begun in 1984 to promote neighborhood safety and bring communities closer together.
Held the first Tuesday each August, this year’s celebration in Aurora included block parties and gatherings of police, fire and emergency vehicles at 24 different community events across all of the city’s 10 wards.
A press release from the city said that various neighborhoods throughout the city would be hosting
gatherings “featuring live music and giveaways that are family-friendly and community-minded.”
“These celebrations encourage residents to come outside and spend the evening getting to know their neighbors, community partners and local officials,” the release said.
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“This event is really a staple for the community each and every year and is a great opportunity for neighbors to meet one another and city leaders as well as continue to strengthen the relationship between community members and our public safety officials,” said Aurora Director of Communications Jon Zaghloul. “The city’s Community Engagement Division has really been leading and collaborating with site leaders and have put together some entertaining events including food, music and DJs.”
Zaghloul said the events are a chance for residents to meet local police officers and firefighters.
“This event really provides a great opportunity for people to meet those who get to protect them on a day-to-day basis and see how things work in the police and fire world,” he said. “There are touch-a-truck and police
vehicles at various sites where people can go inside and see how these things really function.”
One of the larger National Night Out gatherings in Aurora each year is at the 9th Ward’s Wheatland Park at 2701 Spinnaker Drive.
The site was well-packed with people within the first hour of the celebration opening at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The event included a bounce castle, food truck, pony rides, face-painting, the Aurora Public Library bookmobile and more.
Heather Smith, who lives in Aurora’s 9th Ward, said this was her second year coming to the National Night Out event at Wheatland Park and that her daughter Sidney, 3, was going to take a pony ride during the fest.
“This is a chance for my daughter to meet other kids her age in the community and she’s always excited about the event. She really likes the pony rides and last year they had a bunch of emergency vehicles
here and my daughter thought that was a lot of fun,” Smith said. “It was great to meet some police and local firemen. I like the atmosphere and it kind of brings people together who don’t always see each other.”
Kristen Scheuer, also of the 9th Ward, said this was her third year coming to the National Night Out event at the park and that her children enjoy the fest as well.
“They like the horses, the bounce house, getting to see all their friends before school starts,” she said. “I know this also is about connecting with local police and fire in the neighborhood. We love that. We do visit the police and the fire stations often so the kids get to meet and see all the people in uniform.”
Brittney Keller, who was visiting from the 3rd Ward, was in line with her daughter Lowen, 4, who was waiting to get her face painted at the event.
“This is actually our first time. My kids are looking forward to face-painting and pony rides and I just wanted to get out and meet some of the neighbors,” Keller said. “I know this is also about first responders and I think it’s so important just to get the community out.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.