Don't Miss National Night Out: Celebrating Community and Safety in NJ

SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS, SEA GIRT, MANASQUAN, BRIELLE, SPRING LAKE, NJ - Held the first Tuesday of August, National Night Out is a community policing awareness-raising event celebrated annually by local communities across the country. What began in 1984 as an initiative to help communities and police come together to fight neighborhood crime has now become a festive evening consisting of barbecues, live music, dancing, and meet-and-greets with police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.

In New Jersey, National Night Out has seen significant participation and growth over the years. In 2023, over 200 communities across the state took part in the event, demonstrating a strong commitment to building safer and more connected neighborhoods. From small towns to large cities, the event fosters a sense of unity and collaboration between residents and law enforcement.

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Gold Coast towns Brielle, Manasquan, and Spring Lake Heights will all be participating in the national event on Tuesday, August 6, with Sea Girt celebrating "Patriot Night," an evening similar to National Night Out, on Friday, September 6, from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Plaza (across from the Sea Girt train station).

In Brielle, National Night Out will be held at Brielle Park, 658 Union Lane, from 5 pm to 8 pm. Featured at the celebration will be free cotton candy, popcorn, hamburgers, and hot dogs. There will also be a bungee trampoline, an obstacle course, a K-9 demonstration, and rock climbing, as well as a dessert truck (by purchase).

Sea Girt Police Lieutenant John O'Connor explained that the borough shifted to "a different form of National Night Out. Due to the busyness of the Shore area in the summer, we decided to hold off and do a celebration after Labor Day. It's a great community event and a way for the police officers to give back to the community, by having engagement with them. I have been there since the inception. Each year they change it a little bit. I don't know what they have in store yet. It is a free event sponsored by the Sea Girt Police Association," he said. O'Connor added that in the past, the event included a barbecue and Touch-a-Truck with visits from police officers, first aid members, and lifeguards.

Spring Lake Heights will hold their Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, from 5 pm to dusk at Joseph Robertson Park (Allaire Road Park), 1100 Allaire Road. Police officers will be there to meet and greet the public with free food, a DJ, emergency vehicles, face painting, and other activities."We want to show pride that the Spring Lake Heights Police Department has in our town and residents and also the appreciation that the community has for their police department. We always have an excellent turnout, and we expect the same this year," said Spring Lake Heights Police Chief Ed Gunnell.

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The borough of Manasquan will hold their Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Abe Voorhees Drive (across from the Manasquan Post Office). They will have a variety of free activities such as face painting, a bounce house, and games for kids. There will also be an ice cream truck, free hamburgers and hot dogs, drinks, and prize giveaways. Manasquan Police Captain Nick Norcia noted that the town has hosted National Night Out for the past three years. "This is the third year in a row we are doing it. It's hard to do in the summer with the Shore being so busy. We try to get the word out about it. It's a great event. People really enjoy it, and it's an opportunity for the police to be out there in the community and connect with everyone," he said. "We look forward to seeing all at the National Night Out."

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