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Dunkirk preparing for 32nd National Night Out

National Night Out is being celebrated again in Dunkirk in Washington Park.

On Tuesday, the city will join 30 million-plus other citizens from over 9,000 communities nationwide in celebrating National Night Out.

This is the 32nd year that the Dunkirk Police Department has sponsored Night Out in the city of Dunkirk. When many communities have stopped their Night Out Programs, our program is going strong and still growing after 32 years. This is directly related to the dedication of Night Out coordinators, the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the citizens of our community, who work together as partners to keep our city safe.

National Night Out is designed to strengthen neighborhood crime and drug prevention efforts and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and not afraid to fight back. Our National Night Out program is directly correlated with our neighborhood watch programs, which are active throughout the community.

On Tuesday, citizens in Dunkirk will be locking their doors, turning on their lights, and spending the evening with their neighbors, police officers, firefighters, and city officials. Again, this year the event will have one centralized Night Out location at Washington Park. Coordinators will be working together on this event, and we ask that anyone who can assist please come to the Park before the event begins to help with setup or assist after with cleanup.

The coordinators, who are the same dedicated citizens who work on our neighborhood watch program, donate a tremendous amount of time and work to this program every year. Our hat is off to them as they make it all happen. The coordinators, along with the support of local businesses that donate to our program, truly make Night Out the success it is.

The Police and Fire Departments will be at Washington Park during the evening, featuring patrol cars, fire trucks, and items for the children. McGruff the Crime Dog will be there. Everyone, from senior citizens to small children, will have the opportunity to meet and interact with Police Officers and Firefighters.

Car seat installations will be provided by new technicians, assisted by the New York State Police. This emphasizes the importance of community partnership and pride, allowing for positive interaction between our citizens and first responders. The Fire Department has joined forces, and their participation is a huge success. It is essential to show that we are all committed to making our community a safe place. The interaction among Police Officers, Firefighters, City Officials, and community residents builds positive relationships that benefit the community as a whole.

This year’s band is Two Towns, and they will be playing music in the Gazebo. The Recreation and Development Departments will have a movie in the park at dusk to cap off our Night Out event. The movie this year will be Inside Out 2, sponsored by the Van Buren Drive-In Theater & Activities Center. There will be picnic tables available for seating, or residents can bring a blanket or lawn chair to the park to sit on and enjoy the movie.

East Fifth Street will be closed from Washington Avenue to Park Avenue, and Washington Avenue between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street will be partially closed for car seat installations. There also is plenty of parking in the area around Washington Park for everyone to attend the celebration.

Alternate Parking will be relaxed in the area for the night.

Police also stress that parents should not send their children to the event alone. This program is a family event designed to show children the importance of community working together. A strong Police/Community partnership within the community is the best weapon we have in keeping our city safe. It only takes a few minutes to get out, get involved, and make a difference in the community. “We have seen a huge change in the program over the years, and more families are becoming involved. That is what this program is all about. As the program expands, so does our commitment to collaborating to keep the community safe,” police said.

The Night Out celebration will start at approximately 6:30 p.m. with refreshments, bounce houses, Fire Trucks, and our police officers offering items for the children. The movie starts at 8:15 p.m.

The Dunkirk Police Department and National Night Out Committee would like to thank all sponsors for their support, dedication, and donations over the years. Our many thanks to Tops Markets, Blasdell Pizza, Southpaw Signs, Save A Lot, McDonald’s Restaurant, G&E Tents, Music by Two Towns, Awesome Bouncers, Atlas Comfort Cabins, ROBO Mart, Dollar General, Imagine This Custom Products Inc., Cattoos, Dunkirk Police Benevolent Association, Fredonia Basils, Van Buren Drive-In Theater and Activities Center, and Tim Hortons. Many of these sponsors have been part of National Night Out for a very long time, and they donate services, food & refreshment items, or financial support for our program. We could not have the success we do without their support.

A special thank you to Mayor Kate Wdowiasz and the City Administration, Common Council Members, WDOE/96KIX FM, Access 12, the OBSERVER, the DPW, Parks Department, Recreation Department, and City Electrician for their support over the years.

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