Communities come together for National Night Out
Published 6:18 pm Saturday, August 1, 2015
Games, food, music, school supplies and law enforcement. Not many would group those things together, but Tuesday, they’ll all be found at Beebe Memorial Park in Washington as the community gathers for National Night Out.
“It’s a time set aside from state to state where we all celebrate on the same day, the same night, with our community in the fight against crime. All law enforcement, all officials, all demographics — we come together and say ‘We’re going to stand together and fight for the neighborhoods,’” said Kim Grimes, Washington Police and Fire Services community outreach coordinator.
Grimes has headed up Washington’s National Night Out celebrations for several years, and with each year, it’s grown, evolving from a small gathering to a community-wide block party with games, demonstrations and performances.
“I think it’s grown a lot and I think that just shows that more people are willing to be involved,” Grimes said. “It feels good that, now, people are contacting me, rather than the other way around.”
This year, in addition to Washington Housing Authority, Zaxby’s of Washington has partnered with Washington Police and Fire Services to host National Night Out. The local franchise makes a point of supporting community outreach, Grimes said.
“They love what we’re doing in the community — that’s what they want to be a part of,” Grimes said. “They really enjoy seeing what’s invested in the community by Washington Police and Fire Services.”
Food will be centric to National Night Out games: Zaxby’s will hold a hot wing eating contest, while Hwy 55 will host a hot dog eating contest. Washington Police and Fire Services is back again this year with its watermelon-eating contest.
New to National Night Out this year are the Kingdom Life Church Ministries gospel choir and Washington-based step group Beautiful Butterfly Connection, who wowed the audience with their talents during halftime at the Washington Police and Fire Services exhibition basketball game against visiting professional football and basketball players, an annual event held in June.
Physical fitness advocate, filmmaker and Washington native Rain Bennett will also be on hand, giving calisthenics demonstrations that are part of a new, worldwide and underground urban fitness movement. Bennett recently premiered his documentary film “Raise Up: The World Is Our Gym,” about the movement’s transition to international sport.
For Grimes, the evening represents a night out to learn new things and appreciate the common goal of the community and law enforcement: to keep neighborhoods safe.
“I would love to see everybody come out to it,” Grimes said. “So everyone, come out, come out, come out. Support.”
National Night Out will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Beebe Memorial Park, located at North Bridge and West 11th streets in Washington.