Mayor Horrigan Hosts National Night Out Against Crime On August 3

Akron, Ohio, July 28, 2021 — On Tuesday, August 3, 2021, Mayor Dan Horrigan and the City of Akron will host the 38th annual National Night Out, a unique event celebrating the importance of neighborhood engagement in Akron. Last year’s event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, that promotes police-community relations and neighborhood unity. The goal of National Night Out is to strengthen participation in local programs that prevent and deter crime, in an effort to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

"National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "Increasing trust between our residents and our officers has become as important as ever in a year where Akron, like many other cities across the nation, has seen an uptick in violence. It's no secret that we face significant challenges related to violent crime and strained community trust, and events like this can help increase transparency and allow for a dialogue between residents and officers."

The NNO program has deep roots in Akron, where the first NNO event took place in 1984 in East Akron. This year’s program will be scaled down from previous years, featuring events at 5 sites throughout the City. Planning normally begins months in advance for the NNO program, but was delayed this year to assure the health and safety of participants. All events will be hosted primarily outdoors.

The five sites that will host events are:

• Joy Park Community Center Organized by: Mike Dowdell Time: 4 to 8 p.m. Contact: 330-375-2805 or MDowdell@akronohio.gov

• Firestone Park Community Center Organized by Councilman Donnie Kammer Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Contact: ward7@akronohio.gov

• Ed Davis Community Center: Organized by: Robert Dowdell Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Contact: 330-375-2832 or RDowdell@akronohio.gov

• Summit Lake Community Center: Organized by: Todd Clarke Time: 4 to 7 p.m. Contact number: 330-375-2826 or TClark@akronohio.gov

• Goodyear Heights (Along Goodyear Blvd. - in front of the Linda Theatre) Organized by: Councilwoman Sharon Connor, Mike Herhold, and the R.I.G.H.T Committee Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Contact: R.I.G.H.T. Committee - (330) 784-4012

The National Night Out campaign involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic/religious groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials. In all, more than 38 million people are expected to participate in NNO in more than 16,000 communities across all 50 states and beyond.