Next Tuesday, Aug. 1, is National Night Out, and the Lansdale Police Department, Montgomery Township Police, and Upper Gwynedd Police and Fire are among the agencies set to celebrate the occasion.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign geared towards promoting police-community partnerships. National Night Out has occurred on the first Tuesday of August every year since its introduction in 1984, and usually consists of block parties, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, and a variety of other community events.
This year, Lansdale Police will host their National Night Out at Borough Hall on Vine Street from 6 to 9 p.m., with games, music, an obstacle course, and a dunk tank featuring Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert and councilperson Meg Currie Teoh.
"National Night Out is our open invitation to the public to celebrate the partnership shared by the police and the community that we serve,” said Mayor Herbert. "It is about coming together and building stronger bonds in the hopes of building a safer Lansdale together."
Upper Gwynedd is celebrating by hosting an event where neighbors can come and meet with their local emergency responders, as well as check out their equipment. Upper Gwynedd’s event will be held at Parkside Place Park from 5 to 7 p.m.
Montgomery Township Police are hosting their own event as well, at William F. Maule Park at Windlestrae in North Wales from 6 to 9 p.m. Included in the festivities will be various games and activities, displays for emergency vehicles, a meet-and-greet for some of the force’s canine units, as well as a princess meet-and-greet featuring Disney's Ariel and Cinderella.
"There is no better way to build relationships with people than by meeting them face to face and taking a moment to get to know one another,” said Herbert. "It is my hope that this year’s National Night Out will be the most successful one yet, and it will continue to foster a positive environment where our community can come together and celebrate our community policing efforts.”
