Throughout the country, National Night Out has been a 25-year tradition of community crime-fighting. For Quakertown residents, it means a chance to get together with your neighbors and friends at a huge block party once a year. This year, the day is Saturday, August 5. The place: right outside your door.Quakertown Borough Council and Quakertown Police Department are hosting National Night Out for the third year in a row. David Zaiser, borough councilman, was one of the initiators of the event and continues to organize it every year.
“It’s a gathering event,” he said. “It’s a chance for people to turn on their porch lights, go outside, and meet their neighbors.”
A lot is changing for this year’s event. First, it will be celebrated at six different locations in the Quakertown area: Erie Ave., 8th St., 12th St., Naylor Ct., Independence Court and the West End Fire Department. The borough pays for all the food cooked at each locations although some money comes from donations from local businesses. You’ll be able to get dibs on the food and fun from 6-8 p.m.
Last year, at about 8 p.m., after everyone had finished filling up on the great food, a bonfire was lit in Quakertown Memorial Park. According to Zaiser, about 500 people came to stand in its glow. This year, instead of a bonfire the Quakertown Pool will be opened for the public to swim. But you can’t just show up to the pool. Free pool passes will be handed out at each of the six different locations; you can’t get into the pool without one of them. During the free swim time, there will also be a fireworks display.
Although community gatherings are never a bad idea, the borough and police department have a deeper goal for the event. According to Zaiser, when a sense of community loyalty and support is established, the crime rate drops. National Night Out is a way to bond the community together, and thus fight crime.
Joy Ugi is an intern at The Free Press. She can be reached at tfp@berksmontnews.com.
