National Night Out block parties bring neighbors together

Getting to know your neighbors was a common theme among the five block parties hosted in Concordia for the 9th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday.
National Night Out, hosted by the Concordia Police Department and the Concordia Year of Peace Committee, is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Six organizations participated in the National Night Out block party at the Broadway Plaza including Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVACK), the Cloud County Resource Center, Pros of Con, Cloud County Health Department, Cloud County Health Center and Neighbor to Neighbor.
There were games and activities for children and adults, including corn hole and a pickle spitting competition, during the event at the Broadway Plaza.
“It is to get people out in the community, to get people to know each other and get to know their neighbors and get to know about law enforcement,” Tanya Paul, DVACK outreach specialist in Concordia and co-chair for National Night Out, said, “Getting families out and getting people to know each other.”
The Concordia Police Department, the Baptist Church, the First Christian Church, Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home and Citizens National Bank collaborated on a block party in the 600 block of Cedar Street that included plenty of food and live music.
“For the community to get to know local law enforcement. To meet your neighbors and creating that bridge in communication,” Concordia Police Department office Doug Thoman said of the event.
Larry and Janet Eubanks, 505 West Sixth St., have been hosting block parties for about 30 years. When the National Night Out event started they started inviting more people.
“For people to get out and meet people,” Larry Eubanks said, “Neighbors being neighbors, get back to that.”
Kenny Allen, 1117 Broadway St., was hosting a block party for the fourth year. He said he started the event because there were some problems in the neighborhood.
“We opened it up to anybody, not just people in our block. We say 'bring a side dish and let's have fun,” Allen said.
It was the eighth year for the Hood Park Neighbors to host a block party at Hood Park.
“To bring the community together and meet your neighbors,” Sara Niehues said.