National Night Out event returns to Gorgas Park on Tuesday [updated]

Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department’s fifth district will join with residents and local town-watch members at Roxborough’s Gorgas Park from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to participate in the 31st annual National Night Out, an event organized with the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).

“This is a night for America to stand together and promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity,” said Matt Peskin, NATW’s national project coordinator. “National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight for a safer nation.”

More than 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities participate.

The local commemoration

In the Fifth District — covering Roxborough and Manayunk, it is perennially one of the city’s lowest crime districts — Town Watch Night Out includes a late summer celebration where members of the community can catch up with one other over hamburgers and hot dogs at Gorgas Park.

“All the civic groups and neighbors come out and get together,” said Officer Charles Kline. “Everybody has a nice time.”

At last year’s night out, Capt. John Cerrone reminded attendees that even though the district doesn’t have the same levels of violent crime as other neighborhoods, property theft remains an issue.

Other events

The Wakefield 49ers and Germantown Deaf Ministries Fellowship will hold a Night Out event from 6 to 9 p.m. as well. At 8 p.m., there will be a Memorial Moment in remembrance of crime victims in the 4900 block of Wakefield St.

If you know of other Night Out gatherings in Northwest Philadelphia, please let us know by email or in the comments section of this story.

Updates

Other National Night Out events in Northwest Philadelphia include:

— From 5:30 to 8 p.m., state Rep. Dwight Evans is hosting a gathering at Simons Recreation Center, 7200 Woolston Ave. in West Oak Lane.

— From 5:30 to 8 p.m., East Falls Town Watch will host a gathering at 3540 Indian Queen Lane.

— From 7 to 9 p.m., the Hansberry Town Watch will host a gathering in the 100 block of Hansberry St. in Germantown.