Sgt. Remoh Robert (left) and Officer Daniel Kearns (right) pose next to a police motorcycle (Igor Studenkov/Journal & Topics Reporter)
Families and other Park Ridge residents flocked to Hodges Park last Tuesday (Aug. 5) for the annual National Night Out.
Held in towns nationwide every first Tuesday of August, the event sets out to encourage connections and build trust between police departments and the communities they serve. Park Ridge city bodies, public safety entities, nonprofit organizations and local businesses had tables set up. Park Ridge Opioid Advisory Group offered resources for addiction and mental health issues. Park Ridge Scout Troop 1, the oldest continuously chartered Boy Scout troop in the United States, invited youth to do pull-ups.
William Soukue, a scout from Boy Scout Troop 1, demonstrates pull-ups. (Igor Studenkov/Journal & Topics Reporter)
Park Ridge Community Health Commission and Park Ridge Public Library gave kids and adults a chance to spin the wheel and win prizes. Park Ridge’s own Wheel & Sprocket bike shop did a twist on the formula and had people spin a bike wheel. Other notable vendors included the Park Ridge Historical Society, Illinois State Police safety education unit and the Cook County Sheriff’s 911 Center.
One notable new vendor was Pennies for Pennyville, a new nonprofit that was formed earlier this year to help families dealing with a hard time and support other nonprofits that may face financial struggles. Ald. Fred Sanchez (2nd), who sits on the organization’s board of directors, gave the Park Ridge Fine Arts Society as an example.
There were plenty of activities for kids, including inflatable structures, face painting, a kid-sized trackless train that went around the park and a video game truck. Amazing Adamz the Magician entertained kids on the lawn.
Amazing Adamz the Magician entertainins kids with jokes and magic tricks (Igor Studenkov/Journal & Topics Reporter)
Families could get up close and personal with fire trucks and police vehicles, and they could touch, but not climb inside of, a replica of the DeLorean time machine from “Back to the Future” movies.
Families check out Park Ridge police cars (Igor Studenkov/Journal & Topics Reporter)
The police department handed out free pizza slices and water, and a Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard truck was on hand selling ice cream.
The event wrapped up with a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers team.
One of the Park Ridge Fire Department fire trucks on display at National Night Out. This one is assigned to Station 35, which serves the section of Park Ridge south of the railroad tracks (Igor Studenkov/Journal & Topics Reporter)
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