Los Altos National Night Out Tuesday

The 33rd National Night Out means more to Los Altos this year

For 32 years, National Night Out has been the chance for communities to get to know their local police department, learn about local crime, and get information on drug and violence prevention in a fun family atmosphere.  

This year, Los Altos residents are being given the chance to take the annual community event one step further, by  getting involved in a new neighborhood association. Local residents led by community leader Michele K (Michele Kreinheder), will be asking residents who show up to the Los Altos National Night Out meet-up at Whaley Park if they want to get involved in planning neighborhood activities.

Even if you have no time for a new local neighborhood association, residents are invited to show up to Whaley Park North at 6:30 pm on Tuesday August 2nd. Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs, Michele K will be bringing cupcakes to share- as a recent post from Michele states "it doesn't take much to make a party" so everyone is free to come with or without something to share.

Los Altos builder Llyod Whaley

Los Altos was a planned community that once had  strong business and civic associations.  The annual Los Altos Easter Parade and Christmas display around Whaley Park North were both big community draws.

The Los Altos Charitable Giving Fund is working to bring back an updated Whaley Park Christmas display, and Councilman Supernaw has announced his office  has begun working toward creating new local business associations.

National Night Out, ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime,’ was introduced by the nonprofit crime prevention National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984. The first National Night Out was introduced early in 1984 - with 400 communities in 23 states participating in National Night Out

The new program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin who decided  that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally.

At that time,  a typical ‘crime watch community’ had only 5 to 7% of the residents participating actively. The goal for the National Night Out program was to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts. Peskin wanted a program that would involve entire communities at one time.  

Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in the first National Night Out in1984. From that start, the program has grown steadily over the last 33 years.  Today, an estimated 37 million people in 15,449 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide take place in the annual event.