National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign on the first Tuesday in August that promotes partnerships between the police and local communities. According to National Night Out’s official website (natw.org) the event enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.

Communities all over the country take part in celebrating by hosting block parties, festivals, cookouts and local events.

This year, the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department is planning on hosting a community event for National Night Out on Tuesday at the Van Buren and Washington streets intersection from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with free food and activities. A few of the annual activities include tug of war, a dunk tank and corn hole.

S Van Buren and Washington streets are scheduled to be closed from 4 p.m. onward according to Event Planning Team Member Michele Wedel.

Local restaurants and businesses will be donating food to the event and various public safety organizations including the Police, Sheriff’s, Volunteer Fire departments, Dispatch and Department of Natural Resources officers will have booths set up.

The police and fire departments are scheduled to hand out backpacks to kids with safety information and activities inside. Kids are encouraged to bring their questions for public safety personnel.

“In 2022 I re-established National Night Out here in Nashville after a few long years of COVID-19 restrictions around the world,”Police Chief Heather Burris said. “The Nashville Police Department, under my leadership and direction, is to focus on Community Policing. This event allows for the Police Department to gather in a central location and get to know the community on a personal level. Also, this is a way to humanize our officers, letting the community see we are people too, giving the community the ability to build trust and converse with the department on a more personal level. I think it’s a great opportunity to bring the resources in the community together to reach as many people as possible too. The main focus of this event is for the community to know who their first responders are within this community and build a positive relationship, which results in a positive impact. Law Enforcement can’t do their job without the trust of the community, and what better way to build that trust in a relaxed, friendly environment.”

The event is on the books to start at 5:30 p.m. with color guard, invocation and recognition of public safety personnel scheduled for 6 p.m.. At 7:20 p.m. the fire departments are scheduling a water spray before wrapping up the event at 7:30 p.m.