Minneapolis continues to be a role model for how National Night Out events are planned and executed. For the sixth time in the past eight years, Minneapolis has won 2008 National Night Out’s top Award for cities with populations greater than 300,000. Minneapolis finished ahead of San Antonio, the Washington, D.C. area, and Houston. National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.
More than 60,000 Minneapolis residents gathered at 1,111 events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of National Night Out’s annual event. Activities ranged from neighbors gathering in homes, to more elaborate events in parks and on streets where families from several square blocks gathered. National Night Out activities help build and maintain Minneapolis’ extensive network of neighborhood watch block clubs by giving people an opportunity to get together with neighbors, build relationships, meet new people, discuss issues and plan for the future.
Minneapolis’ effort was coordinated by the Minneapolis Police Department’s Community Crime Prevention/SAFE Unit. Many City departments, including 311, Business Information Services, Communications Department, Public Works, among others play a prominent role along with Minneapolis Police and Fire departments in helping organize and promote National Night Out. In addition, several neighborhood organizations also actively participated in National Night Out by working closely with blocks clubs and other groups to make their NNO events a success.
The 2008 Minneapolis NNO was sponsored in part by Target Corporation, AAA, Litin Everything Party ‘n’ Paper, Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, Minnesota Twins, Nickelodeon Universe MOA, Qwest, KFAI Radio and Minneapolis Telecommunications Network (MTN).
The National Association of Town Watch bases its ranking on a community’s overall National Night Out effort, including the quality and size of the overall campaign, law enforcement involvement, neighborhood participation and special events. For more information on the National Association of Town Watch or specifics on the awards, go to www.natw.org.
(See “Stars of the Night Light up the Nation” You Tube Video of Minneapolis National Night Out activities )
Nov. 18, 2008