'Night to Unite' Offers Way for Lakeville to Come Together

From neighborhood cookouts with grills and picnic tables, to large potlucks with hired clowns and magicians, neighborhood parties are a common occurrence during the summer months.

But there is one get-together that’s set apart from the others. It’s a special night to connect with those around you, not just for social purposes, but to make the community a safer place to live. This state-wide event is called Night to Unite, and on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 2, neighbors will have a chance to come together.

“A close neighborhood, where neighbors care about each other, is a strong deterrent to crime,” Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof said. “It’s all about building a stronger neighborhood to create a safer neighborhood.”

And the event isn’t just about neighbors connecting to neighbors. The police department, the fire department and City Council members will also be out in force to discuss the important issues in Lakeville neighborhoods.

The Lakeville Police Department plans on sending one officer to every party registered, according to Vonhof. But that is nothing new to Lakeville police. The police department is used to doing prevention events like this every summer.

For over 25 years the nation celebrated National Night Out, which had the same goals in mind, but a couple years ago the city of Lakeville decided to undergo a state-wide initiative instead of being under the national umbrella.

Night to Unite is now in its third year, and 75-85 parties are expected to be registered in Lakeville by Aug. 2. Lakeville hopes to beat last year’s number, which was 75.

Although city officials hope that more crime will be prevented because of Night to Unite, prevention is hard to measure. But the night gives the Lakeville Police Department, the fire department and City Council members the opportunity to strengthen the relationships between themselves and the communities they serve. This, they say, will help make Lakeville a better place to live.  

The Lakeville Police Department also leads many other initiatives around the community to make the city a safer place. Mainly, they lead programs upon request, and these programs can be anything from lessons on securing your bicycle to being safe on the internet.

“As crime changes, we have changed the way we educate and inform the public,” Vonhof said.

If you would like to register a party for Night to Unite, you can register online with the city of Lakeville.