The Neighborhood Services Department partnered with the Champaign Police and the Champaign Park District to host the 2013 National Night Out Celebration. The theme for this year’s event was “Own the Night, Own your Community”. This year, it was decided to revise the approach from previous years and give the Annual National Night Out Celebration back to the neighborhoods.
A letter was sent to all registered City of Champaign neighborhood groups to encourage them to apply for funds to host their own Annual National Night Out Celebration. Five registered Champaign neighborhood groups successfully completed grant applications for the event funds: United Garden Hills Neighborhood Association, Beardsley Park Neighborhood Association, Wheaton Area Neighborhood Watch Group, Union-Elm Neighborhood Group, and Douglass Square Neighborhood Group. These groups hosted neighborhood-based events that included family-friendly activities, food, entertainment, and the distribution of safety information for approximately 450 people who participated from all five neighborhoods.
In addition, the Champaign Park District hosted a Sounds at Sunset event that featured Candy Foster and included family friendly activities, food, and safety demonstrations. This event ran concurrent with the neighborhood group events and gave those who do not have established neighborhood groups or did not apply for the funds a place to go and celebrate the event.
United Garden Hills Neighborhood Association
Wheaton Area
Beardsley Park
Douglass Square
Union and Elm