‘National Night Out’ Observed in Superior

An effort for people to make their neighborhoods safer will take on a festive atmosphere Tuesday night across Wisconsin and the country. National Night Out began in 1983, and uses block parties to bring people together.

The Superior Police Department and community members will join forces using block parties as a crime prevention tool. Community Policing Officer Bonnie Beste says these events help create a bond between police officers and residents to help keep neighborhoods safe, “The communities come together to promote police and community partnerships and crime prevention. People can make their stand and by having these parties they can let others know they are a drug and violence free neighborhood.”

This is Kelly Nystrom’s fifth year of spearheading events in her neighborhood. Nystrom says her event is normally a large gathering and is expecting a larger turnout than last year’s 200 people: “We have free food, a little bounce house for their kids. The police department comes, usually with their motorcycles; the fire department comes with one of their trucks. We have Gold Cross ambulance that comes and the kids can tour the ambulance.”

Zion Lutheran Church is a first year event holder. Pastor Patrick Ziems says it’s important to hold these events help keep the community safe but also to bring back that sense of community. Ziems says a trip to visit his mother really hit home. “She’s 80 years old and she goes next door for coffee. She knows her neighbors and I don’t think we do that very much anymore and I think it’s a real loss.”

Officer Beste says planning the events is pretty simple and she encourages anyone whose block doesn’t have an event, to think about planning one for next year.