Pleasanton ready for National Night Out

Pleasanton will join communities throughout the Tri-Valley and the United States in celebrating National Night Out with neighborhood block parties on Aug. 7.

The 35th annual National Night Out is a crime- and drug-prevention event sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Pleasanton Police Department. Pleasanton residents can register their neighborhood event through this Friday.

The event is designed to heighten crime- and drug-awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirits and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals to let them know neighbors are organized and fighting back, according to police.

The Pleasanton Police Department started participating in National Night Out 20 years ago with four neighborhood block parties. Since then, the event has grown to over 40 block parties, coming from mostly registered Neighborhood Watch groups.

Parties can range from potlucks to barbecues to ice cream socials, and in the past have included live bands, bounce houses and kids parades. Parties that are registered with the police department before the deadline could be visited by the Pleasanton Police Department, elected city and state officials, the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and a host of allied agencies.

Anyone interested in hosting a National Night Out party can visit www.pleasantonpd.org and download an application or pick one up in the front lobby of the Pleasanton Police Department. Any questions can be directed to community and public relations coordinator Shannon Revel-Whitaker at 931-5242 or by email at srevel-whitaker@cityofpleasantonca.gov.