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Date: 7/29/2022
CHICOPEE – Celebrated as an annual community-building event, National Night Out will be returning to Sarah Jane Sherman Park on Aug 1. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and concludes with a flashlight walk at 8:30 p.m.
Communities across the country host National Night Out events as a platform for fostering stronger relationships between the police department and the public. While most communities host their National Night Out on the first Tuesday of August, Chicopee is running the event on Monday due to conflicts with the City Council schedule, according to Mayor John Vieau.
For Vieau, the annual celebration remains a fixture that is close to his heart. Vieau shared that he has a history of being heavily-involved in setting up National Night Out due to the event taking place in his ward during his City Council tenure. He stressed that the event helps build deeper connections within the community.
“These are the events that build public trust with police, first responders and the public…It’s something I take a lot of pride in. We love to give back to our community and we love these community events,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Chicopee has celebrated National Night Out over the last 28 years, with 2020 representing the lone year the event did not take place. Vieau said the event focuses on engaging community members of all ages by boasting a plethora of different activities.
The Police and Fire Departments will display a wide range of their daily equipment. First responder vehicles, K-9 demonstrations and meet and greet opportunities with members of each department will be offered throughout the evening.
“The relationship between neighbors and law enforcement is the key component…We want an open dialogue and communication from infants to seniors,” said Vieau.
National Night Out also features several attractions aimed for children. Rock climbing walls, bounce houses, art activities, balloon animals and other family-friendly offerings will be available throughout the evening. Additionally, Chicopee High School and Chicopee Comprehensive High School will face off in a wing eating contest that serves as a prelude to their annual football matchup.
“We want to make sure the activities are fun. The more activities the shorter the lines…It hits home when you see a young child crying because they didn’t want to leave,” said Vieau.
The City Council and Chicopee Fresh will be serving hot dogs throughout the evening. The mayor is expecting the annual event to return with normal crowds after a surge in COVID-19 cases last August. He aspires for National Night Out to connect with a significant portion of the community.
“We expect the crowds to be packed with a few thousand people…it’s a lot of fun and I am looking forward to it,” said Vieau.
Readers interested in learning more about Chicopee’s National Night Out can visit http://chicopeema.gov/909/City-of-Chicopee-Events.