Columbus neighborhoods plan for a National Night Out like no other

After more than a year of COVID-19 gathering restrictions and a summer filled with protests against police violence throughout Columbus, this year's National Night Out will look a bit different.

The annual event, held on the first Tuesday of each August, aims to promote "police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live," according to the National Association of Town Watch website. 

Across the Columbus area, communities are undertaking different approaches to better engage with residents during National Night Out, from offering free food and fun, to focusing on the social justice issues facing the city.

Hilliard is planning block party style fun

In Hilliard, community members can look forward to a night full of free food and drink, raffles, and a pop-up splash pad created by a fire truck.

Andrea Litchfield, a Hilliard police spokeswoman, said the city wanted to host a "massive" event after being forced to cancel last year's celebration due to the pandemic. 

"I think now more than ever, it's incredibly important that police officers and community members connect in non-enforcement ways," Litchfield said.

Litchfield lauded Hilliard's annual event, saying it's one of the best that the city puts on each year. She encouraged community members to come out to enjoy the festivities.

"We always have a blast at this every year," Litchfield said.

Fewer National Night Out events in Columbus

In the city of Columbus, there will be fewer in-person events than normal, said Lt. Kyle Kincade, a community liaison with the Columbus Division of Police.

Kincade attributed the changes to the effects of the pandemic and hesitancy among some community leaders.

Still, there will be nearly 140 celebrations for National Night Out, including both in-person events and calls for community members to leave their porch lights on as an act of solidarity. 

After last summer's protests, Kincade said engaging positively with community members, especially youths, is more important than ever.

"Our main goal is trying to rebuild or re-establish our police-community partnerships," Kincade said.

A focus on social justice

This year's National Night Out event in the Driving Park neighborhood east of Downtown will have a focus on social justice, said Mike Aaron, president and executive director of the Rickenbacker Woods Foundation, which is sponsoring the event with a few other nonprofit groups.

Aaron's goal is not to discredit the work of the Columbus Division of Police, but rather to foster meaningful conversations about how the city can move forward together after last summer's protests.

"We're not trying to put a bad rap on the police, but this is still a fresh topic," Aaron said. "We haven't seen those type of protests in Columbus in 30 years." 

While the Driving Park event will feature free food, inflatables, a DJ and local vendors, it will also include a conversation about social justice and a community-wide survey about residents' relationship with the police.

Aaron said that after the event, he will deliver the results of the survey, which is being done online as well as in person at the event Tuesday night, to the Columbus Division of Police and to the CoCity Council in order to foster change.

"If we're really going to work together," Aaron said, "let's keep the conversation going." 

tcarlin@dispatch.com

@timcarlin_