By LILLIAN GLAROS
PHOTO CREDIT: Lillian Glaros
College Park community members mingled with police, firefighters, elected officials and neighbors on Aug. 6 for the annual National Night Out at Duvall Field.
Organized by the City of College Park and several neighborhood associations, the local observance featured meet-and-greets with local politicians, activities for kids and snacks.
“I think it’s good. … The residents are able to interact with the law enforcement community in a different way than when they’re just, you know, calling for help,” City Manager Kenny Young said. “But also, it’s not just the law enforcement. It’s also our firefighters and helping our children to kind of understand that they have an important role within the community.”
National Night Out is a nationwide event that started in 1984 to build relationships between communities and law enforcement through local events, according to the organization’s website.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the event helps to build trust between law enforcement and community members.
“It is important to build that trust and bring them closer to each other,” Kabir said.
Attendees visited booths hosted by the College Park Arts Exchange, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, the College Park Lions Club and the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD).
Maj. Mike Leadbeter said UMPD’s booth allowed officers to talk to community members.
“We want to find out what their concerns are,” said Leadbeter, the department’s Support Services Bureau commander. “We want to involve ourselves and get to know them because a community that’s known by the public safety element is going to be a safer community. That’s just the way it is.”
The District 21 delegation of the Maryland General Assembly also hosted a booth.
State Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) said the goal of the delegation’s booth was to connect with people and share information about public safety and how to access resources.
“We have all kinds of information about what went on during the legislative session,” said Rosapepe, who also attended National Night Out in Beltsville. “We have information about public safety issues, we have all kinds of state information, but then people just come up and ask us questions about things. I talked to a lady who lives in College Park, but she’s having problems with rent increases and wants to know what programs might be able to try to help.”
Attendees enjoyed free snow cones, popcorn and hot dogs at a booth funded by the city. Local Boy Scouts of America Troop 298 sold a variety of snacks. A bouncy house, fire trucks and an ambulance were present for attendees to explore.
Mel Blain, a north College Park resident, said she enjoys coming to National Night Out every year.
“It’s a nice little neighborhood event, which I appreciate,” said Blain, who has hosted a table for her business, Posh Cycling and Fitness, in previous years.
Some groups attended the event to recruit volunteers. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was there to find volunteer advocates for those in foster care.
“You know, with this work that we do, we cannot do it in a bubble,” said Yolanda Johnson, the executive director of CASA in Prince George’s County. “And so we want to make sure that we have a presence here in the county, but also because I want the county, the people in the county, to understand that there is a need here for youth who are experiencing foster care to have volunteer advocates.”
