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City gets ready for National Night Out

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

By Sonja Elmquist
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — As an officer, police Chief Tim Bellamy began attending the city’s National Night Out events in 1990. Since then, the event has grown to involve more neighborhoods and more people from those neighborhoods.

“It’s evolved,” Bellamy said. “Every year we’ve had more and more participation.”

National Night Out, in its 25th year nationally, seeks to increase awareness of crime and drug prevention and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

The Greensboro Police Department has organized National Night Out activities since the program started in 1984, according to the city.

This year, about 115 neighborhoods will participate, said Anne Gregory, community affairs director for the police department.

As chief, Bellamy tries to make it to at least two events in every patrol district and any that he runs into on his way between them.

Not only is that a lot of driving, it’s a lot of hot dogs — and barbecue, chicken, cookies, ice cream. The Starmount neighborhood has hosted a sit-down dinner at the Starmount Country Club, Bellamy said.

“All of them have good food,” Bellamy said. “Whatever you want to have.”

Events range from a few deck chairs in somebody’s driveway to elaborate events involving live bands, pony rides, pool parties and hundreds of people.

The largest Bellamy has ever seen was at the Willow Oaks housing development, which replaced the Morningside Homes public housing community.

“That neighborhood was probably the largest turnout I’ve ever seen,” Bellamy said.

Last year, Greensboro won an award from the National Association of Town Watch, the group that organizes National Night Out. Greensboro was one of 33 cities in the country to be honored for the quality of their events.

Police participation is a key component of the event, but not the only one, Bellamy said.

“National Night Out is an excellent program to prevent crime but also to bring communities together,” he said. “Whatever people think about the police department, people care about their community.”

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or sonja.elmquist@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

File photo (News & Record)

Photo Caption: The National Night Out event held in Guilford County in 2007.

Greensboro National Night Out events

For information about National Night Out events at private homes, contact a neighborhood representative. Contact information is available at the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress Web page: www.gnc-nc.org/resources.htm. Look for “Directory of Greensboro Neighborhood Contacts.”
Or contact Anne Gregory, the police department’s community affairs director, at 373-2636.
Arrowwood — Community Center, 4310 Reedy Fork Parkway
Asheboro Square — Vacant lot at Bragg and Vance streets
Aycock Historic — Sternberger Park
Beechcroft community — Oaks West Park
Bluford Park — the 1800 block of Eastwood Avenue
Claremont Courts — PNRC Office, Patio Place
Dresden Woods — Beckwith cul de sac
Dudley Heights — Bluford School cafeteria
Eagle Pointe — Club House at Eagle Pointe
Eastside Park — 317 York St.
English Street — 239 S. English St.
Fisher Park —By park playground
GateRidge — Glenwood Avenue between Kirkman and Willora streets
Gateway Plaza — Lounge, 200 Spring Garden St.
Glenwood — Morris Farlow Park
Green Crest Homeowners Association — cul de sac off Green Crest Court
Guilford Hills — park on Pembroke Road
Hall Towers —2314 N. Church St., back of building
Hamilton Hills — Coronado Park
Hampton Homes — Community Building
Heath Community — Gethsemane Church or Heath Street Park
Highland Park — Lindley Baptist Church
Holden Village — entrance to Holden Village on Darden Road
Hunter Hills — Hunter Hills Park
Jonesboro Scott Park — Durham/Lutheran in Jonesboro Scott Park
Lindley Park — Lindley Recreation Center
Meadow Wood Homes — Merryweather Park
Old L. Richardson — Windsor Center
Old Starmount — Christ United Methodist Church, 410 N. Holden Road
Pear Leaf — Community Building
Ray Warren Homes — 1306 E. Lee St.
Rolling Roads — Asbury Church at Pinecroft Road and Deer Place
Shannon Woods — Shannon Woods Park
Smith Homes — Florida Street Community Building
Spring Valley Apartments — 400 W. Meadowview St.
Sunset Hills — Tennis courts at Madison and East Greenway
Sycamore Glen — Reedy Fork Parkway
Westerwood — Lake Daniel Park
Windhill — Community Center
Wynnmere — Field off of Hammond Drive
Source: Greensboro Police Department