Pratt residents are invited to open their doors, come out in the streets and get to know their neighbors better at the annual Pratt Night Out.
Time is fast approaching for the Tuesday, Aug. 4 event and the time to start planning block parties is now, said event coordinator Carol Mott-Renner.
Pratt Night Out is part of National Night Out a nation wide event to fight crime and prevent drug use in communities across the nation.
To participate in Pratt Night Out, organize a block party and have the neighbors come out into the street or on the sidewalk or into a private home or use one of the city parks to gather and enjoy good food and good friendship while getting to know the neighbors, Mott-Renner said.
The Leadership 2000 Plus program is sponsoring the event. They started Pratt’s involvement nine years ago as a project and have supported the event ever since, Mott-Renner said.
Leadership 2000 Plus is looking for volunteers to help get the word out about Pratt Night out.
Contact the Chamber office to volunteer.
The event has been a traditional good time for children. Police, ambulance, Sheriff’s Department and fire departments split up the parties and visit as many as they can, allowing children and adults the opportunity to visit their vehicles up close.
It’s a good way for children to get to know the emergency services and the neighbors to get to know the children.
Members of the Leadership 2000 Plus also pay a visit to each party, Mott-Renner said.
For information contact Mott-Renner at 672-6421 or 672-3571 or the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce at 672-5501. The Chamber offers information packets and free yard signs for anyone who requests one.
Quite a few people have already responded to the event and Pratt would like to have as many parties as possible.
The parties can use one side or both sides of a street and streets can be barricaded off to traffic if the party is not on a major traffic street. Organizers are encouraged to use their imaginations. In the past party themes include outdoor cookout, karaoke, water park, desert night, watermelon feed, tea parties, potluck and others.
“It’s just up to the individuals,” Mott-Renner said.
Pratt Night Out had 16 parties in 2008. The most parties were around 30.
The Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce and Leadership 2000 Plus sponsor Pratt Night Out.
Contact Pratt City Public Works at 672-3866 to arrange for barricade delivery or for a visit from the city fire truck.
This the ninth year Pratt has participated in Pratt Night out and 26 years for the National Night Out program.
In 2008, over 37 million people in 15,000 communities participated in National Night Out. The goals for National Night Out are:
• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.
• Generate support for and participation in local anticrime programs.
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
