Vienna resident Lincoln Myers fires a squirt gun at his uncle, Parkersburg Police Officer Daniel Logan during the National Night Out event last summer at the City Park pool. This year’s National Night Out will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5. The event includes crafts, games, prize giveaways, food and drinks and time at the park’s Splash Pad. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — Having the community interact with local police officers in a social setting is the focus of the upcoming annual National Night Out in Parkersburg.

The free event will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, at City Park. The national event, which focuses on “Police-Community-Partnerships,” has been going on for a number of years.

“We started celebrating and joining with them nine years ago,” said event coordinator Debbie Jeffrey. “Our goal is to bring the community and law enforcement together in a positive way to be able to build relationships.

“This is part of a national event that is happening that evening all across the United States.”

When law enforcement and first responders are called to an emergency it can be a stressful time that does not always leave kids with the best impressions of police officers and other emergency crews.

Zavian Wilson, left, throws a water-filled splash ball at Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board as Brandon Pride takes aim during the 2024 National Night Out event at the City Park Pool. This year’s National Night Out will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, at City Park with games and crafts starting at 3 p.m. at the large shelter and the splash pad opens at 5 p.m. It is a chance for the community to come out and interact with local police officers. (File Photo)

“This allows our police department to interact with them in a fun way,” Jeffrey said. “They can see that although they have a job to do, they are here to support the community.”

The event will start from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with games and crafts put on by different groups and organizations from around the community at the large park shelter and then from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the park’s splash pad will be open and there will be swimming at the pool. Officers will be giving out Discovery World tickets to the first 200 kids which were bought and donated by John’s Automotive Sales in Parkersburg.

“This is free and it doesn’t cost anyone anything,” Jeffrey said.

There will be a DJ, raffles (for kids ages 2-16), food and drinks, t-shirt giveaways and more. A bike giveaway will happen at 7:30 p.m. for 10 kids between the ages 2-16.

Food will include hot dogs, chips and other picnic type foods.

The items being given away and other aspects of the event are being done through donations from local businesses, Jeffrey said, adding those donations and support make the event such a success locally.

Bible Baptist Church comes out and takes care of the grilling and has done so for years. Many businesses are donating prizes and more for the event.

“Some of our supporters have been by our side for the last several years,” she said.

Jeffrey, who is a Court Advocate who works with children, said she has seen some of the issues facing some families in the community.

“I think by allowing them to come out to a beautiful park with all kinds of people and see how everyone works together,” she said, adding they can see they don’t have to be scared of the police or emergency crews.

Last year was the first time they had ambulance crews as part of the event.

“I can say that helped so many children and parents,” Jeffrey said. “They let the children see what was in an ambulance.

“Many times they see a loved one go away in an ambulance and they don’t always come back so knowing what goes on in an ambulance on a child-based level was a very important thing to happen. They can see they have band aids and things to help people and it is not always detrimental.”

An ambulance, the city’s SWAT vehicle, fire vehicles and police vehicles will be on display this year and for children to be able to look at and ask questions.

“Although bad things happen, the kids can see police officers can have fun and do fun things, but they are here to offer support,” Jeffrey said. “It works on both sides. It allows parents to be at ease with their children with law enforcement.”

Some officers will be there in full uniform and it will be a chance for kids to ask officers questions and interact with them in a fun environment.

“The kids and the community will be able to see the other side of what law-enforcement does,” Jeffrey said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.